You Wont Believe This!

[Judy]

Here we go again. She is telling an interesting story. No opinion was requested, yet people just feel compelled to provide them. It is between her and her local laws what she does with the possum. Do what you want with yours, but don't do it near my property, please.

 

[abluechipstock]

i had a possum problem for a while before i knew what was going on, he was happy to eat whatever was in the nest box on the floor, eggs were missing then my beloved blue cochin hen, i trapped him and released him a few miles away

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I bet that did give your DH a surprise! At least he did not reach into the nestbox in the dark

Glad your girls are ok and the "guest" has been taken care of.

 

[MISS MILLIE]

DDawn,
yes, just telling a story. And I realize I'm opening up myself to criticism for my stupidity in leaving the coop open all year. I realized that going into this post. That was dumb and I learned my lesson. I never expected the division betwen the opposum handling tactics, though. Yes, the poor thing was just looking for a way to stay warm and really it was our fault it found its way in to the coop. Maybe my husband could/should have just released it but then it may have come back (or not, who can say?)

All that being said, the hens are pets for my kids. They get taken on the swing set and they all have names. It comes down to the hens or the opposum, and we choose the hens.
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION- If you opened your coop door and found an opposum in there, sleeping or not, would you really have stuck your hand in there, picked it up, found a container to put it in and driven it somewhere far enough to keep him away? Not me. Im glad my husband killed it, frankly if it had been me who had found it, I would have literally crapped myself and freaked out trying to figure out how to get it out of the egg box without it biting me. It most likely would have escaped and then I'd worried daily that my hens would be killed in the middle of the night even with the coop locked up. Gotta do what you gotta do to protect your flock, as another poster said.

 

[Laurieks]

Quote:

Unless it was born on your property, it IS outside of it's 'area', although they probably have a defined 'range'. When possible we relocate to the park/preserve a half mile away. They most likely came from there anyway.
If I could get them to remain (& behave) to keep others away it would be great. How do you do that?
I hope this isn't a hijack... I'm defending the rights of the OP.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Amen. This is her story, so let her tell it. Keep your opinions to yourself. The OP didn't ask for suggestions, advice, opinoins, "WWYD" (what would you do) etc. She is TELLING HER STORY. If you want to express yourself about opposums, start another thread and post til your heart's content.

Thanks for the post ddawn.

And Thanks MISS MILLIE for sharing your story and pic.

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
Amen. This is her story, so let her tell it. Keep your opinions to yourself. The OP didn't ask for suggestions, advice, opinoins, "WWYD" (what would you do) etc. She is TELLING HER STORY. If you want to express yourself about opposums, start another thread and post til your heart's content.

Thanks for the post ddawn.

And Thanks MISS MILLIE for sharing your story and pic.

X2

(While it's not a pleasing thought to have to kill a predator, if someone has to do it, they have to do it. Can't judge someone whose path I haven't walked in yet.)

 

[terrilhb]

All I am going to say is I am so glad your hens are ok.

Hope you have no more problems. Good luck

 

[Naughty]

I had one in my coop - and I was scared it would bite me... who knows what it might be carrying! I hit it with a rake - but it crawled under a pile of straw and chicken poop... when I went back out to check later - no evidence of it.... I'm glad it's gone and hope it was scared - but now I never know what I may see in the morning so I worry.

It was my first experience with one - made me feel like a tigress protecting her cubs... or momma hen lol ....

 

[Judy]

Quote:
SO TRUE. We really don't know what we would do until it happens to us. We all feel protective of out birds, and we all want wildlife to live their lives as well. We are silly enough to hope this doesn't include eating our birds.

At least these posts might stop a few people from just driving a few miles, perhaps to my property, and turning it loose, not thinking they are giving someone else their problem. Relocation is often illegal, yes, but it's also pretty undetectable, and we know people are going to do it who don't really want to kill it.

And no, I'm not going to tell what my solution would have been.

BTW, releasing possums where they will be coyote food is not going to make a chicken or dog owner happy, if she's had her animals wiped out by coyotes.