I saw a possum trying to get into the coop

[SussexInSeattle]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost your son.

I like Phil's idea about the relocation program. Since possums tend to be kind of slow, I would choose an area about 3 to 5 miles away and release them. They do have some benefits such as eating rodent populations so they are not all bad, just chicken-bad.

 

[alwayswantedchicks]

Thank you for the condolence. It's been 20 years. It's something you learn to live with. I still miss him every day, many times a day and I don't usually mention it to people...makes them uncomfortable but he really did loved guns and was a trophy winner shooter. I haven't shot a gun since he died. He died suddenly of menincoccal meningitis, the one that has a vaccine now. The only reason I tell you all this is - get your kids the vaccine. Please. You just never know. He was just 14. He was my 'healthy one' and I thought he'd live to be an old man. Anyway...

Our possum didn't come back last night or today that I know of. When we got home this miserable evening, foggy, rainy, all the birds were wet but accounted for and as always happy to see us. I set the trap again for this evening, up under the coop out of the rain. I closed it this morning, figured I'd come home and have chickens peering out wondering what happened after they would surely have eaten all the cat food. Silly girls.

I think relocating is good too. I'd have to shoot the poor animal as it runs out of the trap. It probably depends on if the possum hurts or kills any of my birds before taking to the trap bait, then I might be mad enough at it to shoot it.

Little brains with dense muscle huh. I think I'll do some research on possum, and spell it properly for fear of what might come back on the search. I'm wondering if the guineas had not been out there doing all that fussing, would the possum achieved his goal and gotten to the chickens. I've read about guineas being good 'guard dogs'.

I think I'll get a new 22 pistol to keep handy, something else that ya just never know when you might need it. We have all sorts of predators, including bears (next door neighbor's dog was slapped by a momma bear last summer). But I know a bear isn't going down with a 22.

I'm ready for the longer, milder days of spring

Thanks y'all.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:

Thanks for the advice on the vaccine... I'll be sure to follow it.