Have noticed a possum walking around on the security cam the past two nights in the run...

[bayareapilot]

So, I have multiple cameras which capture activity in and around the coop and the run. Anyway, about a night ago I was running through the stored video from the wee hours of the morning looking for something else and noticed a possum (seemed small (?)) walking around the run and the coop. Noticed it again when viewing around the same timeslot from early this morning.

Clearly they can be a serious threat to chickens, but my coop is quite secure and is well-elevated above the ground with a substantial floor and secure automatic door. So, the coop is secure do I really have anything to worry about since these critters are nocturnal which is a time that all my hens and rooster are securely locked away every night?

I read that motion lights can scare them away. Not really sure if I need to do something like the latter or something more 'drastic' (if you get my drift) with the possum or since it only shows up at night does that mean I'm (i.e. my chickens) are going to be okay since they are secure in their coop at night??? I willingly will 'get rid of things' if they are a problem but I try to do it in a measured way with some deliberation - I'm just thinking it is nocturnal so all is okay, right? or not?

 

[mowin]

Nasty, stinky, disease caring predators. Larger ones can and will kill full sized chickens, yes even in the daytime. I'd eliminate the critter before it becomes a problem.

 

[Folly's place]

having a safe coop AND run is best, and then never have food outside of those enclosed spaces, because it will attract unwelcome visitors.
Here, because we have horses, no opossums are welcome in the barn or near the hay, or in any area with the horses.
I wouldn't argue if you decide to trap and shoot this critter...
Mary

 

[bayareapilot]

Nasty, stinky, disease caring predators. Larger ones can and will kill full sized chickens, yes even in the daytime. I'd eliminate the critter before it becomes a problem.

I'm going to set out one of the Havahart traps I already have from past efforts of catching night time marauders. I'll probably use tuna fish for bait. I'll put it out after the chickens are in their Coop and the door is closed and place it in the Run and collect it before the doors open and the chicken coop in the morning. Then presuming I have the critter I'll dispatch it somehow. Not my favorite thing to do but I've had to do it in the past and I work hard to keep my pet chickens healthy and safe. I kind of thought this is where this was going to lead but that's why I thought I'd throw it out to the rest of you and see what you guys thought it that is if you were thinking the same thing I was thinking.

 

[bayareapilot]

I'm going to set out one of the Havahart traps I already have from past efforts of catching night time marauders. I'll probably use tuna fish for bait. I'll put it out after the chickens are in their Coop and the door is closed and place it in the Run and collect it before the doors open and the chicken coop in the morning. Then presuming I have the critter I'll dispatch it somehow. Not my favorite thing to do but I've had to do it in the past and I work hard to keep my pet chickens healthy and safe. I kind of thought this is where this was going to lead but that's why I thought I'd throw it out to the rest of you and see what you guys thought it that is if you were thinking the same thing I was thinking.

UPDATE: No sign of the possum (opossum?). Have the trap out and reviewed the early morning digital videos for a handful of days now - no sign of it anywhere. Starting to wonder if the extremely warm weather we had been having at that time drove it (and other woodland creatures) out to explore a little further from their homes. Will continue leaving the live catch trap out for it for another handful of days; if I don't see it return by then, I'll retire the trap until it shows up again - IF it shows up again.

 

[TOR]

UPDATE: No sign of the possum (opossum?). Have the trap out and reviewed the early morning digital videos for a handful of days now - no sign of it anywhere. Starting to wonder if the extremely warm weather we had been having at that time drove it (and other woodland creatures) out to explore a little further from their homes. Will continue leaving the live catch trap out for it for another handful of days; if I don't see it return by then, I'll retire the trap until it shows up again - IF it shows up again.

I just read the first post. If the chickens are secure I would not worry about 1 lil possum. If it can not gain access and nothing for it to eat prolly go to better hunting grounds.

 

[bayareapilot]

I just read the first post. If the chickens are secure I would not worry about 1 lil possum. If it can not gain access and nothing for it to eat prolly go to better hunting grounds.

Many thanks for sharing that. A friend who does wildlife relocation etc was telling me the same thing. He said if your chickens are secure in the coop they're going to be just fine. He said that possums are basically opportunistic eaters they'll go after easy things like eggs and chicks.

He suggested, just like you had mentioned, then I just forgo the whole idea of trapping it since there's no way it can get into my very secure coop. Thank you very much for posting this made me feel better about what I was starting to think anyway.

 

[Folly's place]

Since we improved our coop so it's very secure, wild critters coming around at night haven't been a problem. Seldom do the traps have to come out!
Mary