Problems with Possums

[BackyardDove]

It seems like, once I get over one issue, a new issue emerges. This time it's in the form of chick-snatching possums. The first chick was snatched a few days ago, but I didn't think much of it since I had accidentally left the chick gate unlocked and the chick could've squeezed through the small gap between the door and the frame. Yesterday, another chick went missing, this time the gate was locked and everything was secure. I firmly believe it's possums because I've seen them on our privacy fence(Which encloses our yard to protect my animals from most predators), I've seen the dig/scratch marks they make in our yard, and there really isn't another predator in the area to be suspicious of. We live in a rural town that's still rural enough to have a good population of possums, raccoons, hawks and such, but town-y enough to not have coyotes, foxes, and other common predators. No stray dogs can get into the yard either. The chicks were also only snatched at night too. And, to top it off, the unwelcome visitor came back last night, made a mess where he had jumped down the privacy fence and into our yard, and pooped next to the chick area. Luckily I brought the chicks inside the house last night since they're old enough to be away from mom, so nobody was harmed. But, how do I keep these pests out? Three sides of the chick area is 6 foot tall chicken wire, and the other side is a 6 foot tall privacy fence. For now I'm going to trap and release the current problem possum far away from here, but that isn't going to fix the issue. The chick area was never built to be able to sustain a roof, so I don't think I can enclose the entire chick area. There is a sheltered part of the area that the chicks and moms roost in that I could enclose though. But, what can a possum not get through? Can it bite/get through chicken wire? Do I need to actually enclose the area with wood? I can't completely enclose it with wood though, since it needs ventilation. I live in central Texas and an enclosed wooden coop would practically cook my hens.

 

[123RedBeard]

Chicken wire won't keep it out ... Use atleast 1"X2"-3" welded wire the heavier gauge wire the better (in wire the smaller the number, the bigger the wire) but they can still reach a paw/hand through, if the chickens are close by. 1/2" hardware cloth is usually thinner wires, but closer together ...

I would only relocate to its grave! Unless you like possum stew?

 

[BackyardDove]

Chicken wire won't keep it out ... Use atleast 1"X2"-3" welded wire the heavier gauge wire the better (in wire the smaller the number, the bigger the wire) but they can still reach a paw/hand through, if the chickens are close by. 1/2" hardware cloth is usually thinner wires, but closer together ...

I would only relocate to its grave! Unless you like possum stew?

Well, this is the chick area, to give a better example of what I'm working with.




The hens and chicks roost in the metal nest boxes. Thanks to the privacy fence, nothing can stick it's hands through the wall that the nests are on, so I'm not worried about possums reaching through and grabbing them. Though I could always double layer another, smaller wire around the bottom for extra protection.

Wait, so I shouldn't relocate the possum?

 

[123RedBeard]

A possum can climb ... Right over that wooden fence ...

Yes, kill the trapped possum.

 

[aart]

Relocation is not good for several reasons, and it's illegal in a lot of places.
Spread of disease.
Relocate an animal in a new territory and chances are it will be killed by 'resident' animals.
Makes a problem (and maybe trap-wise) animal someone else's problem, not cool.
Yes, kill any trapped predator animal.

Agrees that you need heavier mesh all around that area, including the top and along the outside bottoms to deter digging in.

 

[BackyardDove]

A possum can climb ... Right over that wooden fence ...

Yes, kill the trapped possum.

Well, yes, that's why I've been having chicks go missing and immediately knew what the issue is. It also helps that I've seen them with my own eyes climb onto the top of the fence. So, yes, I do know they can climb over the fence. However, that doesn't help me with figuring out the proper way to enclose the sheltered area.

Relocation is not good for several reasons, and it's illegal in a lot of places.
Spread of disease.
Relocate an animal in a new territory and chances are it will be killed by 'resident' animals.
Makes a problem (and maybe trap-wise) animal someone else's problem, not cool.
Yes, kill any trapped predator animal.

Agrees that you need heavier mesh all around that area, including the top and along the outside bottoms to deter digging in.

As far as I know, it's not illegal in my town. But with the spread of disease, I would be worried about that, however, this possum is in constant close contact with stray dogs, raccoons, people, etc. If it did have a disease, it would have spread it by now and we would know about it. With making it a problem animal for somebody else, Texas is a huge state. There are countless areas in central Texas alone where there is absolutely nothing for a hundred miles, if not more, which I would be surprised if it wasn't more. If the possum is willing to go hungry and make the long and likely fatal walk to find a house with prey animals, then there is absolutely no hope in protecting my chicks.

However, I've decided to just not trap the animal and hope he doesn't harm my hens. My chicks stay in the house at night now, so they are not in danger. I don't own a weapon that can kill a possum, and even if I did I wouldn't want to kill the poor thing just because he found a way to find an easy meal. Thank you for your help! Hopefully I can find some cheap heavy duty, small spaced wire here soon.