This is a REALLY GROSS question, but need an honest answer!!

[crperdue]

I've heard of people that kill vermin and use them to feed the flock, but indirectly.
You don't know what chemicals, poisons, or deseases that creature has come
into contact with.

They put the carcass in a 5-gal bucket with some holes poked in it and hang it
up above the run. Flies lay eggs on the carcass and when ready to pupate the
larvae climb out of the bucket and are eaten by the chickens.

This converts the varmit to high quality clean protien. The larva expel the contents
of their gut before climbing out of the bucket.

If you don't like the sound of this (and I sure can understand that) at least compost
it. I would never just throw it away. (just my opinion)

 

[stanglover2001]

We've decided to cook it in a fire outside, then serve it... So that takes care of any germs and smells and cooks it and singes the hairs off... if they eat it they eat it, if not we'll bury it.

 

[madimorg]

Auuuu, poor thing. I never mind the opossums coming up and eating cat food. I find the cute in an odd sort of way and they eat and go off on their merry way.

 

[bobbi-j]

We kill possums here. We're getting overrun with them. They also carry a disease that is fatal to horses.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Your admiration of them will change when you find one in your coop eating one of your birds........Pop

 

[chics in the sun]

I would be too worried about diseases to feed it to them, unless you boil it first. Possums are just gross. And it wouldn't go to waste if you bury it. It will decompose and enrich the soil. Just bury it deep.

Never mind - your plan sounds good - I didn't realize there was a second page. Good luck!

 

[geebs]

Feed it... No biggy... If it gets ripe....more goodies for the girls.!!!!

 

[oldchickenlady]

My tom cat had a run in with a possum and ended up blind in one eye because of it! Ever seen the TEETH they have? The possum bit my cat on the head and one of his teeth nicked the optic nerve. So...any possum is gone if I find him on my property. I have hand caught them before and hauled them away into the back woods (not near any one else's property). I personally would not feed the thing to my chickens, partly because the idea of it is just too gross, but partly because I don't want my chickens looking at meat as a source of food (bugs, frogs, worms, etc even mice, ok, but not something as large as a possum). One I caught by coming up behind it as he was eating my cat's food and he ducked his head and 'played possum', I just picked up by the tail and dropped him in a sack. The other was on my front porch, on top of my BBQ grill. I took a stick and distracted his toothy end while sneaking up on his tail end! It just so happened my cat cage was sitting on the porch that evening and I just turned it up on its end with the open door facing up, then when I caught him I just dropped him down in the cage, shut the door, and rehomed him to a very remote area of the woods. I know, probably not the smartest way to handle it, but hey...I've been catching everything I could get my hands on since I was 4 years old...

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Quote:
Ummmm… Possum and sweet potatoes. Yummy! Or so I hear. Have hade the opportunity to try it yet. Baked Armadillo is goooooooooood. Yes I know they “can” carry leprosy. I washed my hands after cleaning it like I did with all game.


Quote:
That'll work!!!!!!!

I probably wouldn’t have killed it for eating cat food. Especially if was young. Now if I caught it trying to get into the coop all bets are off. But at least you’re putting it to good use. I always say.. If I kill it I eat it”. Didn’t eat the cat though.

 

[mchl]

it wont hurt, friend of mine feeds meat all the time he runs a butchering buisnessall scraps go to he birds