Possum gave birth on the coop

[TexasBlues]

You killed them?

 

[Unswydd]

You killed them?

I had to. I have information that possums will return even after being relocated. I care very much for my chickens much more than a possum. Possums carry disease and will kill my girls. Isn't too hard of a decision.

 

[ILoveDaffy]

I had to. I have information that possums will return even after being relocated. I care very much for my chickens much more than a possum. Possums carry disease and will kill my girls. Isn't too hard of a decision.

They carry diseases that affect a lot of animals. While that is unfortunate, it wasn't a safe situation for you or the birds, and you tried a rescue first.

 

[TexasBlues]

I’ve never really worried about catching diseases from possums. They can usually be picked up easily by the tail and put in a box for relocation, but I understand that’s probably a harder task for some than others. Gloves can help.
They are fairly nomadic in behavior and don’t usually den in the same spots each night. They weren’t just born btw. They’re probably 4 weeks old.

 

[SherylTingley]

I just got off work and came out to collect eggs and check on the chickens and I was surprised to find a big turd in the coop. I cleaned it up and looked around. I spotted a possum curled up in a corner by the nesting boxes nursing babies. Oh my goodness! I thought I had a secure run. She must've come in this morning when the door opened. I have no idea what to do at this point. Any suggestions are welcome. Please!

Primarily, their hunting skills extend to bugs, slugs beetles, small rodents, and road kill – they are scavengers, part of Mother Natures’ clean-up crew.

They are opportunistic omnivores who will eat just about anything including your tasty trash, yummy compost piles, and other such delicacies.

Although they may not attack a standard hen, they will take bantams, chicks, and eggs.

I would contact animal control or wildlife organization to see if they will come to get them.

 

[SherylTingley]

They are adorable though. Wishing you and her the best.

They are adorable though. Wishing you and her the best.

Once you get them out you can do this. I just read it in an article:

Some people leave a radio playing all day and night, something soft you don’t need to subject your hens to heavy metal! The sounds will deter them from entering.


Many folks hang Christmas lights around the coop and run. They are quite affordable; just a few bucks at the dollar store and the light will deter many other predators’, not just possums.

It also makes the place look festive regardless of the season. You can try motion-activated lights too.

Another suggestion was to stuff empty tin cans with ammonia-soaked rags. You make a few holes in the can, seal the top over and place at the corners of the coop. Change the cans and rags when you can no longer detect the ammonia smell.

In the run itself, you can run a hot wire around the top of the perimeter. The shock will deter most predators from trying that again.

Of course, you need to check your coop for any means of access. A possum needs a relatively large hole to squeeze into, but other much smaller predators can slip through anything larger than a ½ inch.
not just possums.

 

[SherylTingley]

I just got off work and came out to collect eggs and check on the chickens and I was surprised to find a big turd in the coop. I cleaned it up and looked around. I spotted a possum curled up in a corner by the nesting boxes nursing babies. Oh my goodness! I thought I had a secure run. She must've come in this morning when the door opened. I have no idea what to do at this point. Any suggestions are welcome. Please!

Once you get them out you can do this. I just read it in an article:

Some people leave a radio playing all day and night, something soft you don’t need to subject your hens to heavy metal! The sounds will deter them from entering.


Many folks hang Christmas lights around the coop and run. They are quite affordable; just a few bucks at the dollar store and the light will deter many other predators’, not just possums.

It also makes the place look festive regardless of the season. You can try motion-activated lights too.

Another suggestion was to stuff empty tin cans with ammonia-soaked rags. You make a few holes in the can, seal the top over and place at the corners of the coop. Change the cans and rags when you can no longer detect the ammonia smell.

In the run itself, you can run a hot wire around the top of the perimeter. The shock will deter most predators from trying that again.

Of course, you need to check your coop for any means of access. A possum needs a relatively large hole to squeeze into, but other much smaller predators can slip through anything larger than a ½ inch.
not just possums.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Once you get them out you can do this. I just read it in an article:

Some people leave a radio playing all day and night, something soft you don’t need to subject your hens to heavy metal! The sounds will deter them from entering.


Many folks hang Christmas lights around the coop and run. They are quite affordable; just a few bucks at the dollar store and the light will deter many other predators’, not just possums.

It also makes the place look festive regardless of the season. You can try motion-activated lights too.

Another suggestion was to stuff empty tin cans with ammonia-soaked rags. You make a few holes in the can, seal the top over and place at the corners of the coop. Change the cans and rags when you can no longer detect the ammonia smell.

In the run itself, you can run a hot wire around the top of the perimeter. The shock will deter most predators from trying that again.

Of course, you need to check your coop for any means of access. A possum needs a relatively large hole to squeeze into, but other much smaller predators can slip through anything larger than a ½ inch.
not just possums.

They were already Euthanized

 

[cate1124]

I just got off work and came out to collect eggs and check on the chickens and I was surprised to find a big turd in the coop. I cleaned it up and looked around. I spotted a possum curled up in a corner by the nesting boxes nursing babies. Oh my goodness! I thought I had a secure run. She must've come in this morning when the door opened. I have no idea what to do at this point. Any suggestions are welcome. Please!

Is there a way to partition Mom and babies away from the flock without moving them? Or -- better -- to encourage Mom (noise, activity) to move them out of the coop herself (which she won't do if you barricade her entry)?

She likely means your flock no harm, and just took advantage of what she perceived as a safe place to give birth. Anyone other than a wildlife rehabber may be inclined to exterminate her and her young, which is not a desirable nor necessary outcome.

 

[tlcmurphy]

The opossums have been removed