Opossums..

[KikiDeAnime]

Opossums are moving closer to us and while most of them have been run over that I've seen, I worry about them getting too close to our birds' yard. It's secure enough to keep them out and our dogs will alert us to them but I don't want to even get close to it.

What can I put up to scare them/keep them away/deter them?

 

[FortCluck]

There are repellants that you can put in your yard to make them stay away. It's little granules, you can find it at places like Lowe's.

You can put dog hair in your yard that will repel them.

I heard mothballs work, but I'd worry about the dogs getting ahold of them.

You can mix ammonia with water and spray it in your yard, opossums don't like the smell of it.

 

[cmom]

As long as your coop and run are secure, you shouldn't have to worry about them. I see them quite often on my game cameras. As long as they don't bother my birds I don't bother them. Here it's mostly coyotes.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

If your coop and run are secure, no worries. Possums are primarily scavengers. If there is nothing for them laying about in your yard, they won't hang around.

 

[Folly's place]

They will kill chickens at night in the coop, so having secure coops and runs will do the trick.
If you have horses, your priorities will shift a bit. I shoot any that want to spend time at or near the barn or hay.
Mary

 

[Howard E]

If you have seen road kills in your neighborhood, good assumption is they have already been to your coop.

If it's secure......no worries. If not.......worry.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

If you have seen road kills in your neighborhood, good assumption is they have already been to your coop.

If it's secure......no worries. If not.......worry.

Not in my neighborhood. In town near the stores.

 

[50-45-1]

it always makes me chuckle when people say "Oh i dont have this or that predator because i have never seen them here".
just because you dont see them means nothing. are you awake all night and watching? are you watching while you are at work or school?
Opossums are almost everywhere.
if you really want to know what is roaming and passing thru your yard when you are not looking, get a game camera and put it up.
i have a couple cheep (less than 50 dollars) cameras i purchased off Amazon and they work great!
you may be really surprised what you get pictures of.
if your coop is secure at night and your chickens are LOCKED in, you have nothing to worry about Opossums.
believe it or not, they are a beneficial critter. they eat ticks and other slugs and destructive garden insects. they clean up natures rotting fruits, they are non aggressive and rarely fall victim to rabies.
yes, in the past i have had a hungry opossum kill one of my chickens at night, but Shame on me for not having a secure coop during that time.

 

[cmom]

This is a great game camera under $35. I have 6 identical to it. The only drawback is that it takes the tiny micro SD card. Great for nighttime pictures. Here we have mostly coyotes.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGMQRWP/?tag=backy-20

 

[ellenscoop]

I would recommend predator proofing your run/coop. Cuz the predators just keep coming, and chickens have lots of predators. Here is an infographic about predator proofing - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators