Will possums hurt my chickens?

[mmch618]

Today when I went out to collect eggs, my neighbor saw me and told me about a possum that had started living under her shed. She said to watch out for my chickens because possums eat chickens. Is this true? If it is what can i do to protect my chickens? My girls are my babies and id be devestated if anything happened to them.

 

[chfite]

Yes, opossums will hurt your chickens. Make the coop predator-proof to keep them out. Trap and destroy any that remain behind. Inspect the area to eliminate any hiding places for them.

Chris

 

[cochinator]

It's certainly possible but they are not nearly as viscous as coons or weasels. They tend to take the path of least resistance and unlike weasels who kill for sport opossums are more looking for an easy meal than a chicken per se. I have found possums inside my chicken coop with no harm to the birds and I know people who have inadvertently locked a possum in their coop overnight with no harm. But I have also heard of possums eating chickens too.

You can probably trap it pretty easy with a $30 trap from Harbor Freight.

 

[chickenboy190]

They will eat chicks/chickens. So I would try to trap and shoot them.