We caught the varmint .. now what ..

[gtaus]

I grew up hunting and fishing with my grandfather. I don't have a problem with respecting and taking an animal's life, butchering it, and eating it. When my chickens reach a certain age, I plan on culling them too and having chicken soup.

Chickens are omnivorous, so why not put down the possum and feed it to your chickens? I doubt the chickens would have any moral objections. Our 18% layer "meat meal" feed came from some poor animals whose lives were taken.

I would not relocate the possum to let it be someone else's problem. If it was an endangered or protected species, that would be a different consideration. Possums are not protected where I live.

 

[Fishkeeper]

I would tie a rope on the trap and throw it in the ditch for about 5 minutes then dump them in the garbage- usually how I handle skunks. She will be back otherwise. If relocated she will find someone else's henhouse. Nature is tough, you have to be tougher.

Inhumane and illegal. Find another method of killing them.

 

[Anime2lover]

Inhumane and illegal. Find another method of killing them.

Totally agreed.

 

[Jammerz]

It's not either one. It's standard practice in most areas. You guys must live in La La land.

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

Y'all.

I had a broody hen that hatched out 9 adorable EE fluff balls for us on April 15. I shut mama bird and babies in our chicken run by themselves until the babies got a little bigger. Sunday night something climbed the post to our run, tore a 4" hole in the bird netting at the top and helped themselves to the buffet of 8 of the chicks. 3 years with this setup with no problems. Lesson learned the hard way. Don't get comfortable, folks. Mama .. my very best lovable broody hen .. appeared to try to fight off the attacker and initially survived. Didn't have a scratch on her, just missing feathers. She started going downhill Monday afternoon. I attempted all the supportive care I could, but sadly she passed last night. Remaining single baby is now out with the 4 week old birds trying to figure out its place among 20 new not friendly friends. I gave it plenty of hiding places till the bigger chicks lay off.

Meanwhile we set a trap and have the wildlife cameras out to catch this thing. Stinking opossum. Nights 1 and 2 it stole the bait. Last night we caught it ..
Currently SHE is still in the trap with at least 2 babies crawling all over her. First intent was to lethally dispose of the culprit. The little ones complicate the situation. What would you do??

Shoot it...
No need to torture it/be cruel(not saying you would) as it's just doing what possums do BUT if you let it go it's only going to do it again to someone else's flock.

When you catch a roach in your kitchen do you relocate it? Would be the question I ask.

Sorry for your loss that's terrible.

 

[Peppercorngal]

So. . . .what did you do with the possums? No judgement, just wondering. . .

 

[jadip4]

So. . . .what did you do with the possums? No judgement, just wondering. . .

We couldn't kill her .. let her go a couple miles from the house.

 

[bobbi-j]

I hope you tightened up your coop/run so she can't get back in when she shows up again.

ETA - Not criticizing you for turning her loose, but I do hope you're aware that she'll be back. Also, you might want to check your local laws about relocation in the future. In some places, it's illegal to relocate unless you're on your own property.

 

[twendt]

I had a 40 pound Raccoon trying to get into my coop, he messed with the wrong chicken Mama. I got a trap from my mother, caught him the next night, had to go to work at 4 am so I couldn't take care of it , called the reinforcements (my Mom) she shot the critter, no RattyCoon trouble since, and no regrets.

 

[Trux]

I wouldn't kill the possum or the babies. Three reasons 1. If she got into my run or coop then that is my fault for not securing it good enough 2. She is doing what she has to do to feed her babies, it is an instinct, she found opportunity and acted on it and was successful because of reason number one. 3. Possums eat a lot of ticks, having two friends with lyme disease and seeing what they go through, I say go Possums!
This is my opinion, but it is also something for you to think about.