heartbroken to lose a chicken from first flock

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Lorree/Andy

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Hi! We are first-time chicken raisers. We now have five hens from all different breeds. Our beautiful Americana was killed by a possom last night. We are heartbroken. We raised them from chicks and they are like pets to us. The coop and run are very secure. We let them roam around the fenced back yard for a few hours in the afternoon. There are plenty of bushes, plants, and areas to forage and hide. One hen didn't make it inside at dusk as usual, so we searched for her unsuccessfully. This morning, at dawn, we found her in the neighbor's yard being eaten by a possom. There were feathers all over our yard. The possom must have trapped her, killed her, then taken her next door. We do not want this to happen again. How do we keep possoms and other predators away, now that they know food is available here? Or is this just a freak accident? Thank you for your help!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC :frow I'm so sorry for your loss:hugs are you allowed to have electric fence where you are? If so, I would suggest a small 48" fence from premier1 and a solar charger. That would allow you to give them an area to free range while keeping the bad critters out. Again, welcome and were're thrilled you joined us and wish it was under better circumstances:hugs
 
rjohns39 said:
Hi and welcome to BYC :frow I'm so sorry for your loss:hugs are you allowed to have electric fence where you are? If so, I would suggest a small 48" fence from premier1 and a solar charger. That would allow you to give them an area to free range while keeping the bad critters out. Again, welcome and were're thrilled you joined us and wish it was under better circumstances:hugs
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Thank you!
 
The least expensive method would be live trapping. They run about $25 at TSC/Rural King. Opossom will eat anything.. throw table scraps in the trap.. They are creatures of habit and still lurking around. Sleeps all day/roam at night.
What makes you think Opossom and not a coon or something else?
:caf
 
Farmer Connie said:
The least expensive method would be live trapping. They run about $25 at TSC/Rural King. Opossom will eat anything.. throw table scraps in the trap.. They are creatures of habit and still lurking around. Sleeps all day/roam at night.
What makes you think Opossom and not a coon or something else?
:caf
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We found her at dawn. with the possom eating her. Not sure, but assume the possom killed her. No raccoons seen in neighborhood lately.
 
So sorry to hear of your loss. Oppossoms are as nasty as they are ughly.
 
Lorree/Andy said:
We found her at dawn. with the possom eating her. Not sure, but assume the possom killed her. No raccoons seen in neighborhood lately.
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It could have been the possum. It could also have been a raccoon or something else and the possum was eating the leftovers. Not seeing raccoons doesn't mean they're not there.
As to how to keep predators away, electric fencing is a good option. Another thing would be to make sure - every night before you lock up -that all your birds made it in for the night.
 
so sorry.. its heartbreaking to lose a flock member.. i just lost my first.. to a dog.. i catch possums on my game cam nearly every night and i try to make sure scraps of food dont get left lying around.. they are drawn to anything.. or compost.. or garbage..
 

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