Opossums?

[Zoquiryi]

I found an opossum eating one of my chickens a few nights ago. Is that normal opossum behavior, or is there something else killing my flock, and the opossum is just cleaning up?

 

[gallusdomesticus]

Possums will kill chickens

 

[Matt A NC]

Possums will kill any chicken that it can get to easily. They are lazy and go for the easiest source of food. A sleeping, nonmoving bird is perfect prey for them.

Matt

 

[australorp_breeder]

I've had chickens die from possums before. One batch of chickens I had would always sleep in a pine tree and one night a possum climbed it and killed one. I was just assuming a possum because it sounded like one and we do have possums around here.

Are possums and opossums the same thing but people just call them differently?

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Quote:
Same thing... Opossum is the correct spelling. The O is silent...around here anyway.

 

[australorp_breeder]

Thank you!

 

[Zoquiryi]

Okay, thanks everyone!