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Barnyard Buddies:  Chickens and possums  |
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Mad Typist
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Faith
Vermont
55 Posts |
 Posted - May 14 2009 : 04:58:25 AM
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Help! A possum just shuffled up into the cedars by our hen's outdoor pen this a.m. and I'm not sure if he's dangerous to them or not. I think it's a baby (maybe sick, as it came so close to our house in the village, although we have a gully down back). Does anyone know how much of a threat I should consider him to be to our two full-grown Brahmas and two Salmon Favorelles? And any ideas on how to catch him so we can send him away? Any info would be greatly appreciated...
Savor Happy Accidents... |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2009 : 05:39:00 AM
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Yep, possums and chickens aren't a good thing together. Possums will kill them. Usually you don't see possums during the day unless there is something wrong with them. You can get live traps from the animal shelter and bait it with cat food or something like that. Then haul it off. But it could be sick, too. So keep an eye out for it because it will be back.
Good luck! Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2009 : 06:29:52 AM
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Possums+chickens=dead chickens
Very bad
We just removed a very big mother and her babies a few days ago. Took her someplace else about 8 miles away. Used a have-a-heart trap baited with a bowl of cat food. Bought the trap from our local feed and seed store
Possums can also carry diseases like distemper and rabies, they are known carriers of ticks and fleas and, could potentially cause some major damage to a cat or dog if they get into a fight with one.
If it's younger, it may set up residence and pick up the very bad habit of eating/killing chickens. Sometimes young aniamls don't quite grasp humans as a threat and will take advantage of a free meal too.
They can rip into trash bags but don't cause as much mess like a raccoon will.
They also have a distinctive musky funk about them too. |
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Mad Typist
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Faith
Vermont
55 Posts |
Posted - May 14 2009 : 2:22:19 PM
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Thanks, ladies - that's what I was afraid of! Looks like I'm off to find a trap before my niece's 18th B-Day celebration tonight. Only now my problem has expanded to include three meanie chickens pecking the fourth's head bald and bloody while they were in "lock-up" today, which means separating them - something I'm not set up for yet. Sometimes it's hard being a Farm Girl!
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paradiseplantation
True Blue Farmgirl
1277 Posts
julie
social springs community
Louisiana
USA
1277 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2009 : 1:29:01 PM
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Amen, ANna. Chickens and possums DON'T mix. I can't tell you how many we've trapped -- they will eat your chicks and the eggs, then draw up a map for the other possums on where the buffet is!
from the hearts of paradise... |
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yasmine
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
yasmine
wappingers falls
ny
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 5:03:29 PM
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OH MY GOODNESS!
Possums are the worst when it comes to chickens!
We had one sneaking in to our chicking coop maybe once every two weeks for maybe a month but finally when we found out we were missing my 10 year old daughters favorite chicken. My husband shot him.
My husband loves animals and it would take A LOT to have him shoot an animal.
DO NOT LET HIM BACK IN YOUR CHICKEN COOP OR YOU WILL LOOSE A CHICKEN SOONER OR LATER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!!!!!
Oh and also my husband took a plastic pitch-fork and shoved him our of were we collect the eggs. We had to through out all our beautiful eggs that were ready for us to collect!
-Yasmine |
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1498 Posts
Rae
MN
1498 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2009 : 5:43:25 PM
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Faith
I am having same problem with a bully hen pecking the daylights out of one of my hens. Had to take victim out for now, she nailed her in the sides and back!!!
Rae
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31 |
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Mad Typist
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Faith
Vermont
55 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2009 : 04:46:10 AM
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What really stinks is that the pecked-on one WANTS to be with the others but really shouldn't for her own safety. I've ordered some "break bits" I found online that we'll use if it gets too bad, and also some Hot Pick spray to make the victim not so tasty. I think part of what's going on here is fighting over territory w/ the nice weather...I also tried putting salt in their water (1 Tbs/gallon)for one day and then repeat in three days, which is supposedly 99% effective. You might want to try any of those...Good luck!
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Barnyard Buddies: Chickens and possums |
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Chickens and possums
