Just caught a possum trying to drag off my hen

[lv9777]

I have always had a possum living on my property without any problem. I know possums are controversial, but I was leaning on the pro side until tonight. As I was headed out to shut the coop door just after dusk I heard a commotion and walked in to a possum with a hold on my favorite hen. Luckily, I was on my way to the coop when this occurred and was instantly to the rescue. I was able to beat it off and my hen is shook up but seems ok. I saw no obvious gaping wounds and she has settled down to roost I would like to let her roost tonight and then search for damage in the morning to reduce her shock/trauma. Hoping that is ok.
My new rooster (7 months) was cowering in the corner. Not happy with him!
How concerned do I need to be about a repeat incident? It is winter in Michigan, so food is scare and the possum typically eats the leftover cat food because I also feed a few ferals. However, I recently changed how they are fed so I do not attract other predators. Now I am thinking that I disrupted the routine and I have two choices: kill the possum or go back to feeding it. I hate killing anything.

 

[AGeese]

I had possums under my porch. I waited until they were gone and filled in the concrete so they can't return. I've had both Possums and Raccoons give birth under my porch over the years, and I finally said enough.

That said never had an incident. There have always been coons and possums around at night cleaning up the left over chicken feed I throw out.

But I would avoid feeding feral cats anything other than milk (which causes indigestion in raccoons), because once Coons get wind of the food it's theirs.

 

[nuthatched]

Stop feeding the possum by cleaning up after the feral kitties and make sure your coop is secure against the grinner.
I'd check again for any puncture wounds on the bird to be safe.
As for the cockerel, he's normal. Cocks do not prevent or stop attacks, and if they do try to stop, he would have been killed.

 

[lv9777]

My coop is very secure, I was remiss in that I had not shut them in for the night yet. I did find one good size puncture would which i have sprayed with vetericyn plus and I gave her some cat food spiked with nutridrench which she ate readily.
Wondering if I should try and get her an antibiotic? I do not have any on hand. Not sure how to get any....

 

[AGeese]

My coop is very secure, I was remiss in that I had not shut them in for the night yet. I did find one good size puncture would which i have sprayed with vetericyn plus and I gave her some cat food spiked with nutridrench which she ate readily.
Wondering if I should try and get her an antibiotic? I do not have any on hand. Not sure how to get any....

Now would be a good reason to order them. My school of thought is just to have them on hand and not need them.

 

[Folly's place]

You opossum will return, not good, and feeding feral cats isn't so good either.
Keep the birds in for a few days, at least, and do consider trapping and shooting that opossum. Free food outside will attract all sorts of unhelpful critters, and chicken is on the menu for many of them.
At least find a way to live trap those cats, get them vaccinated and neutered, if you plan to keep feeding them. And feed meals, never leave food out there.
Mary

 

[AGeese]

You opossum will return, not good, and feeding feral cats isn't so good either.
Keep the birds in for a few days, at least, and do consider trapping and shooting that opossum. Free food outside will attract all sorts of unhelpful critters, and chicken is on the menu for many of them.
At least find a way to live trap those cats, get them vaccinated and neutered, if you plan to keep feeding them. And feed meals, never leave food out there.
Mary

I agree, I didn't mean to make it sound like it's all good just because I haven't had issues. I'll let things be as you shoot one another will show up, but now it has a taste for blood, so it's probably best to end it.

 

[Folly's place]

Opossums don't seem to be as social as raccoons, for example, so it's more likely that this one is the only individual involved right now. It will return at least for a while, until it doesn't pay off at all. This includes any feed outside, wild bird seed, pet food, chicken food or treats, anything.
Having horses, we have zero tolerance for any opossum not only at the coop, but at or near the barn or on the hay.
And they are low risk for carrying rabies, but not zero risk either.
Mary

 

[AGeese]

I had fat one just after reading this topic in my line of sight, would have been an easy shot, but I let it be. It's just cleaning up the cracked corn the geese didn't get to. My chickens are in a steel building (knock on wood)

 

[Ginmary]

I had possums under my porch. I waited until they were gone and filled in the concrete so they can't return. I've had both Possums and Raccoons give birth under my porch over the years, and I finally said enough.

That said never had an incident. There have always been coons and possums around at night cleaning up the left over chicken feed I throw out.

But I would avoid feeding feral cats anything other than milk (which causes indigestion in raccoons), because once Coons get wind of the food it's theirs.

although they love it, milk can frequently cause digestive issues in cats.