Opossum Killing My Chickens?

[Sunfish]

Skunks kill more than people realize. Fowl is high on the list and night time is their time for killing 

[peejman]

Wolf piss collector = veterinarian.  Darting the wolf is the hard part. 

And I agree with the live trap option. Dad's trapped a bunch of raccoons, a couple possums, and one skunk with a TSC trap and cat food. 

Edited September 28, 2021 by peejman

[E4 No More]

OK, why live trap them? If you're going to kill them anyway, why the extra step?

[E4 No More]

https://www.scheels.com/p/duke-dp-coon-trap/01162700510.html

I ordered a couple of these as they are specific to raccoons but also nab opossums.

[gregintenn]

18 minutes ago, E4 No More said:

OK, why live trap them? If you're going to kill them anyway, why the extra step?

So when you catch the neighbor’s cat, you can just turn it back out without explaining why it’s leg is broken.

[E4 No More]

2 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

So when you catch the neighbor’s cat, you can just turn it back out without explaining why it’s leg is broken.

Nah, neighbors are dog people. There are some stray cats out here in the country but they're no loss.

[Grunt67]

1 hour ago, E4 No More said:

OK, why live trap them? If you're going to kill them anyway, why the extra step?

So you don't have to sit & wait all nite, or days for it to show up.

[MacGyver]

1 hour ago, E4 No More said:

https://www.scheels.com/p/duke-dp-coon-trap/01162700510.html

I ordered a couple of these as they are specific to raccoons but also nab opossums.

Those work great.  

[Omega]

Can't see  a (an?) opossum being the culprit, they would more likely eat the eggs or chicken feed than get a chicken.  I don't have any chickens but this guy would visit my garden regularly and would just saunter away when I approached him.  Could have dispatched him with a stick if I really wanted to.

 

[MacGyver]

I had a brisket on the smoker the other evening and went out to check the firebox about 11:30.  Had one literally brush up against my leg as it walked through the fence coming to see what time dinner was happening. I didn’t hear it because the grass was wet and it was raining. It really surprised me by how brazen it was - or maybe it was just drawn to the brisket like everyone else.

It wasn’t the least bit concerned with me. In fact, it stood up on its hind legs sort of looking at the smoker and then at me for a minute or two. I went in and eventually it moved on.

I’m just thankful my dog didn’t get ahold of it. 

[Erik88]

When they aren't being a nuisance, Opossums aren't bad to have around. I read recently they eat up to 4,000 ticks a week and they are not carriers of rabies. 

[gregintenn]

1 hour ago, MacGyver said:

I had a brisket on the smoker the other evening and went out to check the firebox about 11:30.  Had one literally brush up against my leg as it walked through the fence coming to see what time dinner was happening. I didn’t hear it because the grass was wet and it was raining. It really surprised me by how brazen it was - or maybe it was just drawn to the brisket like everyone else.

It wasn’t the least bit concerned with me. In fact, it stood up on its hind legs sort of looking at the smoker and then at me for a minute or two. I went in and eventually it moved on.

I’m just thankful my dog didn’t get ahold of it. 

I was making ice cream one time. I went out to check on the ice cream maker, and there was a possum staring at it going round and round. He appeared to be hypnotized.

[E4 No More]

45 minutes ago, Erik88 said:

When they aren't being a nuisance, Opossums aren't bad to have around. I read recently they eat up to 4,000 ticks a week and they are not carriers of rabies. 

They do eat a lot of ticks, reportedly. How they counted them is beyond me.

[E4 No More]

1 hour ago, MacGyver said:

I had a brisket on the smoker the other evening and went out to check the firebox about 11:30.  Had one literally brush up against my leg as it walked through the fence coming to see what time dinner was happening. I didn’t hear it because the grass was wet and it was raining. It really surprised me by how brazen it was - or maybe it was just drawn to the brisket like everyone else.

It wasn’t the least bit concerned with me. In fact, it stood up on its hind legs sort of looking at the smoker and then at me for a minute or two. I went in and eventually it moved on.

I’m just thankful my dog didn’t get ahold of it. 

So where's the supper invite?

[MacGyver]

23 minutes ago, E4 No More said:

So where's the supper invite?

Assuming we get through this Covid mess - you're welcome anytime.

[bubbadavis]

Did I just hear "TGO cookout at MacGyver's"? 

[E4 No More]

9 minutes ago, bubbadavis said:

Did I just hear "TGO cookout at MacGyver's"? 

No, you read it.

[gregintenn]

38 minutes ago, bubbadavis said:

Did I just hear "TGO cookout at MacGyver's"? 

That’s what I saw!

[res308]

2 hours ago, bubbadavis said:

Did I just hear "TGO cookout at MacGyver's"? 

Whoooweee! Possum grillin at MacGyver’s!

[Grunt67]

7 hours ago, E4 No More said:

They do eat a lot of ticks, reportedly. How they counted them is beyond me.

I've heard that too, never caught one in the act tho. LOL

[Mark A]

I've been known to smoke some crazy things but skunk and possum have never crossed my mind.

 

I think I will wait on Mac's AAR on this before trying

[partypilot1]

Sounds like a possum. The coons will leave clumps of feathers every 20 feet or so then the trail will die off. 
I use a nanny mic/cam and when you hear them get excited, grab your gun. Another option is motion lights.

[Trekbike]

23 hours ago, gregintenn said:

I was making ice cream one time. I went out to check on the ice cream maker, and there was a possum staring at it going round and round. He appeared to be hypnotized.

Did you let him stick around and partake in the ice cream?    That would have been the neighborly thing to do.     

[gregintenn]

1 hour ago, Trekbike said:

Did you let him stick around and partake in the ice cream?    That would have been the neighborly thing to do.     

He wasn't up to it.

[MacGyver]

23 hours ago, res308 said:

Whoooweee! Possum grillin at MacGyver’s!

I mean, I’m not saying I’m above barbecuing one.