Look what I found in my nestbox this evening

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Yeah, I read that. Just thought I'd tell em what was probably really going on. Maybe it'll save another one down the road!

 

[ibpboo]

Quote:
Yeah, I read that. Just thought I'd tell em what was probably really going on. Maybe it'll save another one down the road!

Ok, sorry for the error on my part. But after quite a few minutes time, it did not get up and leave. And when I took it out of the nest box it still did not move. Even when we walked away, it just stayed there, on the ground, kind of stiff. I do know animals play dead at times, but this one really was near death. My chickens enjoy free ranging, for six years now, I do not feel it is fair to lock them up at all times so that possums can move into my yard. You'll all be glad to know, that the next morning when another baby possum was in my yard, we just moved it to the other side of the fence, it was moving around, and baring its teeth. My property is fenced, although there are spaces where critters have dug under. I've had possum take up residense in my attic, before we totally closed off from being able to go under and into the house, its just not sanitary to have wild animals living in your walls etc, nor is it safe for small children to have wild animals living in your yard. So, they must move.

 

[blurose]

I'm not sure at what age mama possum would grant the youngsters permission to roam on their own. So, mama was obviously training the little guys to know where to find food and maybe something happened to mama and the babies are looking for her, traveling to her old hunting spots. Just a thought. That one just seems too little to be on its own.

 

[MissPrissy]

I have been thinking about your possum. There has to be a momma and more babies somewhere near. Lock your coops up tight. Those things can take out most of a flock in one night of a feeding frenzy.

 

[ChickPeas]

Poor baby.

I think they're adorable...They're just trying survive and raise their kids just like everyone else...even us humans.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

The mother was most likely killed by something. Opossums are a constant source of roadkill. that is how I got my babies.

 

[chilling in muscadine]

I've raised many baby possum's after there mother was killed. I would wear an apron with pocket's so the possum could ride like it was in the mother's pouch. You can check the pouch of road kill and find baby's still alive. Of cource while you are doing this is the time someone you know will drive by. lol It never fail's.

 

[bills]

Sorry to the possum lovers, but I think of them as nothing more than a big rat. They eat countless numbers of song birds eggs, and baby birds, and are threat to my chickens.

Off with their heads!

 

[NoelTate]

Poor little thing. I have to strongly disagree that they are a threat to grown chickens. We have had chickens on our land almost all of my 39 years. My current coop is the first that is covered. We have always had possums to coexist. I even put out cat food for them when I know they are coming up to the house. They will eat chicken eggs, but in 39 years I have never had one harm a chick or adult chicken. When scared, they will play dead. Unfortunately, they do get killed in streets quite often since we are constantly encroaching further into the woods and giving them little choice other than to live in close proximity with us. They are also not good mothers. If a baby falls off the mother's back, she will usually just keep going, not realizing it has fallen off. That's likely what happened with yours. They are fairly easy to raise if given a warm, quiet spot and fed crickets and cat food. They also eat from bird feeders. I have never known of a human bitten by one, either, although their teeth do make them look ferocious. I very much agree with an earlier post that said live and let live. Thank God for people with that kind of attitude. Maybe the rest of the world will catch up eventually.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

My husband thought that too until one night he found one in the coop eating his chickens. That was the first thing he had ever killed in his life. He hates for anything to die but if they are killing livestock then they have to go. They are nasty creatures but they do have their place just not in the chicken house or my farm. When scared they will also hiss and attack you. Ever had one come into your home? My sister n law did and it was not scared! The reason your oppussum don't eat your chickens is because they are not hungry because you are feeding them. Otherwise they come and get what they need.