'Possum!!! A danger to my chickens? We let him go....PICS ADDED!

[wohneli]

You could always make possum stew!!!

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
LOL, I agree....just how far is far enough???

 

[Biddieacres]

5 miles should be fine I would think.

 

[CountryMom]

Just be sure not to dump it on someone else. Don't pass on the problem. It will most likely find it's way back. I just get sick of people dumping animals wild and domestic on me. Really a pain.

 

[wohneli]

... some potatoes, carrots, celery, a bay leaf....

 

[cjeanean]

All right, guys, I'll post some pics when we get back....thanks!!!

The solemn judges of BYC have decided that although stew and death are possible sentences, relocation is the best option. Good luck with your new life, Mr. Opposum, and please don't let us catch you in this part of town again!

 

[andehens]

I wouldn't feel right if I didn't say something. A while back I got kind of interested in oppussums cause we have them here and they play dead and its a riot watching them go down and all the drama. What I learned about them is inspite of the way they look, they are just oportunistic feeders, not agressive and not territorial.

 

[eggchel]

I recommend that you kill it if that isnt a problem for you.

Possums absolutely can be a problem for you and your chickens.
Although some say that possums are scavengers, I disagree. We have found them in our pens with dead, torn up chickens.

We trap them and kill them or relocate them. The problem with relocation is that they need to be taken many miles away to prevent return and of course its not nice to dump my problem on someone else.

We have finally found a quarry near the baylands that is about 8 miles away and across a busy freeway, and we drop trapped predators there. Yesterday we dropped off a skunk and we have another trapped that will go tomorrow.
Tomorrow night I will reset the trap near the fence line where a family of possums is living in my neighbor's giant woodpile.




Chel

 

[rooster-red]

If you are going to kill it, use a gun, kill it with one shot.
Hitting it with a hammer in not humane, and putting any animal in a trash bag with gasoline is very far from humane. Using ether (automotive starting fluid) would be humane.

Possums are opportunistic eaters, they will eat the easiest things they can find. If your coop & run is secure, they won't eat your eggs or chicks. If it is not secure and is the easiest thing for them to get, they will.

We've been co-existing with them here for years now, they eat cat food from my porch and leave my chickens alone (in their very secure coop) much like yours has been living off your trash.

If you want to relocate it make sure it wasn't injured by the dog, if it was then shoot it. If it wasn't, take it several miles away and away from peoples houses & pastures, so it doesn't become anyone else's problem.

 

[Bluedog420]

Just shoot the possum...cause it will Kill your chicken,s