Now a possum

[LittleMissCountry]

This morning I heard the chickens clucking loudly. I looked out the window and could just barely see something moving along the edge of the chicken coop, like it was digging. I ran out, thinking it was the fox we had spotted a few days ago. I smelled a musky smell, but couldn't find anything. Walked all around the coop...the girls were still carrying on. Lifted my head up, and not a foot from my face was a possum, sitting on top of the coop! Scared a scream out of me.
I grabbed a rake that was nearby and whacked it in the head, and it just stared at me. I ended up shoving it off the coop and it ran into the woods.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

In the fox post I noticed you said you don’t want a dog,why migh that be again?

 

[LittleMissCountry]

In the fox post I noticed you said you don’t want a dog,why migh that be again?

We had a dog before we moved (less than a year ago), and it was attacked by the neighbors dog, in our own yard. She had to be put down due to her injuries, and it devastated the kids and I. The kids especially are not ready for another dog, and we have a neighbor dog that is always in our yard. I would worry that it would happen again.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

If we do decide to get a dog, the good news is that the previous owner already had an underground fence installed, so we would just have to buy the collar. However, that wouldn't take care of the neighbor dog coming over.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

If we do decide to get a dog, the good news is that the previous owner already had an underground fence installed, so we would just have to buy the collar. However, that wouldn't take care of the neighbor dog coming over.

A paintball gun takes care of the neighbors dog really well

 

[LittleMissCountry]

A paintball gun takes care of the neighbors dog really well

We are actually on really good terms with our neighbors, so I would hate to damage that. They have mentioned that they are looking into underground fencing, but I know they can't afford it. They have the dog to protect their chickens, rabbits, and other animals they raise.
Their dog does leave our yard as soon as we tell it to go home, but I don't know how it would react to another dog

 

[lazy gardener]

I wouldn't exactly call it good terms if their dog is coming into your yard and the neighbors are not keeping it home. But, they are your neighbors, not mine. You have to do what works for you.

 

[Howard E]

I wouldn't get lost in the weeds of this dog issue......if you need one or not and what to do about the neighbors dog.

The issue at present is if your coop is built in such a way to prevent entry by this possum, his cousins, the coons and all the other varmints in the neighborhood who are coming. If it is, then you can relax and let things settle out. If not, then doing the "tighten up" is your next step.

Beyond that, if a possum or any other varmint can get that close to your birds, the coop has to be bomb proof. Has to be. Dogs, shooting (paintballs, guns, slings and arrows, bottles, fists or knives), traps, shovels, etc. are all filters that add some means of deterrent, but none are 100% effective. Stuff will still get through. So the coop has to be bomb proof so they are defeated when they get there.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I wouldn't get lost in the weeds of this dog issue......if you need one or not and what to do about the neighbors dog.

The issue at present is if your coop is built in such a way to prevent entry by this possum, his cousins, the coons and all the other varmints in the neighborhood who are coming. If it is, then you can relax and let things settle out. If not, then doing the "tighten up" is your next step.

Beyond that, if a possum or any other varmint can get that close to your birds, the coop has to be bomb proof. Has to be. Dogs, shooting (paintballs, guns, slings and arrows, bottles, fists or knives), traps, shovels, etc. are all filters that add some means of deterrent, but none are 100% effective. Stuff will still get through. So the coop has to be bomb proof so they are defeated when they get there.

Unfortunately the coop is a prefab that we bought because we didn't know better and had to conform to HOA aesthetics. We know we are going to have to build something sturdier for the long run, and have to get approval by HOA for plans.
I would guess a possum could chew through the wood. I have reinforced all the locks against coons, buried hardware cloth in an apron around the perimeter, and reinforced the welded wire that was attached already. I covered the bottom wood of the run with the hardware cloth as well. I would just worry about the possum chewing through the wood itself. Hubby said we couldn't do an electric fence because it is too far from the house to run a line. I looked into solar powered ones, but the coop is covered with shade most of the day. Plus, right now we have had a number of unexpected expenses, so money is an issue.
It is super frustrating. Short of killing the possum there isn't much we can do.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

In my experience it’s super easy trapping opossums and raccoons with live traps. Have you tried that? Some yummy cat food for opossums and marshmallows for coons.