One Less Opossum.

[nightcap]

I usually have to get to sleep before dark so I have my son lock up the chickens once they hit the sack. I even reminded the Mrs to Remind him last night because I had a hunch something was going to make an appearance. They forgot to do it so at 2:30 in the morning I was awoken by the racket only my chickens can make. I got a great shot off from my bedroom window.

 

[dawg53]

Good shooting! Hope your chickens are all ok.

 

[ChickenTender63]

Must have been a night for possums to be out on the prowl last night. I
Woke up at 12:30 last night with the feeling that something was wrong
And that I needed to go check on the chickens.

I have a 10'x12' shed converted into a nursery where I put chicks and raise them till
Thay are big enough to go to the hen house. Right now, I have it full of rare
Breed chickens that I have been trying to get started. Right outside of it
Is a tree and grapevines that my "yardbirds" roost in. They are 3 roosters
And 3 hens that always refuse to stay within the coops so I just let em run.

I went out with my spotlight and I started shining it around the nursery house,
And when I shined it in the tree and started counting my 6 yardbirds, I noticed
A possum was within a foot of one of emn with his mouth wide open and looked
Like he was ready to lunge. I picked up a pole I had there and started beatin him
As he ran up the tree and got away. I need to get a 22 for nights like those.

I checked bout every hour the rest of the night and everyone did fine. I left
The light on in the nursery and put a radio on out there also to help deter
Him from coming back. I know I was just lucky, and my time is coming,
But I'm sure not gonna just let em have a free dinner.

 

[chkn]

Cool, was he on the way out or on the way in? ( Good stories by the way.) I've heard here that they definitely do get chickens. I lost one a few months ago, eaten right in their yard (I was out of town). I've never had anything but a possum in the coop so I'm assuming that's what it was. I had some vet tell me awhile back possums don't get chickens (I guess he don't have chickens).

 

[nightcap]

Quote:
The Opossums seem to go after the eggs more but have attacked my chickens I think. I found a LOT of feathers after a possum visit. What I'm really afraid of are the Raccoons. One actually grabbed a chicken drug it over a fence and started to eat it alive. A pellet gun seems just to tick them off. It did drop the chicken and run off though.

 

[nightcap]

Quote:
I'm glad you caught the son of a gun in the act. (or before the act) It's nice to see others get that hunch that something is up.

 

[zazouse]

Glad it didn't do any harm.

I had one come to close last night,

RIP Missy

 

[nightcap]

Quote:
Good Dogs!