How to get rid of opossums humanely and how to make your property less inviting to possums. Basic information about possums, and great deals on possum repellents, traps, and solar powered water sprayers plus a whole lot more.
Information about possums, how to get rid of them plus the best deals on possum live traps
Possums are extremely dangerous predators to have around, when it comes to chickens. They have been known to kill as many as 20 chickens in one night. Possums have at least 50 teeth in their mouth designed to easily cut through flesh and bone. They will eat dead animals and any live animals including chickens or other small animals that think they can challenge in a fight and win.
Possums are extremely dangerous predators to have around, when it comes to chickens. They have been known to kill as many as 20 chickens in one night. Possums have at least 50 teeth in their mouth designed to easily cut through flesh and bone. They will eat dead animals and any live animals including chickens or other small animals that think they can challenge in a fight and win.
How to Get Rid of Possums Humanely
One of the safest and humane ways to get rid of possums is to use a live trap baited with apples or fresh caught fish. Possums are nocturnal and usually feed at night. If you see a possum out during the day it is likely that it is sick and disoriented possibly due to rabies. After you catch a possum with a live trap you should call your local animal control or forest ranger who will pick it up and usually take it to another location and release it back into the wild. Scroll down to find out how to make your chicken coop or home less inviting to possums.
How to Make Your Chicken Coop Less Inviting to Opossums
Do not leave pet food or chicken feed out overnight
Pet food and chicken feed left out overnight will attract the possum. Put all pet food and feed up at night in air tight metal containers. If you leave pet or chicken feed out a mother possum may end up nesting and having her young nearby because she wants to make sure of a steady food and water supply for her babies. Once she has the babies she will take over the area and any chickens are in immediate danger of being killed or having their face bitten off as the possum thinks the pet or chicken feed now belongs to her babies.
Line your coop with tin ten inches deep to prevent possums from chewing through
Possums can chew through wood in a matter of minutes to gain access to a hen house. Line the outside and inside bottom ten inches of the hen house with tightly fastened tin. They cannot chew through tin.
Do not leave eggs in the hen house overnight
The scent of the eggs will draw possums, skunks, raccoon's and other predators.
Strategically place ammonia and mothballs to get possums out of their hiding places
"Found out where the little uggos are hiding? Bombard them with stink. The most commonly recommended method of ousting opossums is by pouring some household ammonia in a coffee can and placing an old rag or towel in with it to act as a wick to help disperse the fumes. Do this everywhere that looks like a potential possum shelter. You don’t want to chase it out of one hiding hole and directly into another. Feel free to throw some moth balls around while you’re at it"(Ronning, 2016).
Use Fox or Wolf Urine as a Possum Repellent
Possums, raccoons, and skunks will not come near if they smell fox or wolf urine on your property. I have not used this method as I have read a few articles from people who used them and the urine actually attracted foxes and wolves to their property. True or not, I won't take that chance. I would rather try other means to get rid of a possum rather than attract a fox or wolf inadvertently.
Use Solar Powered Motion Detection Water Sprayer's at Night
Using solar powered motion detectors at night will spray any predator with water that comes near the area.
Use Solar Powered Predator Lights
Predator lights which have two red lights appear to be the eyes of another predator. The lights should be placed at approximate eye level of the predator you are trying to deter. If you have more than one kind of predator (most folks do) after your chickens you will need to get several predator lights and place them at different heights. Make sure you put one on each side of your chicken coop or run (Click Here to See Best Buys on Predator Lights).
Use Live Traps At Night
Set up live traps at night where you suspect possums or other predators may be lurking. Be sure to spring the traps in the morning or you will end up catching your own chickens and small pets. If you catch something in your traps, call your local animal control agency or forest ranger to arrange for them to pick them up. (See Click Here to See Best Buys on Live Traps)
Guardian Animals-I use dogs and a gelded male donkey as guardian animals for my chickens. Not all dogs are safe to be around chickens. Many breeds will actually kill chickens due to their natural instincts. Dog breeds most likely to be safe around chickens that I have found are Sheep dogs, Great Pyrenees, Blue Healer, Border Collie, Anatolian Shepherds. I have two dachshunds and a mini pin which take their job of protecting their chickens very seriously and are great at cornering skunks. One of my neighbors has a Border collie and Great Pyrenees mix breed dog which will actually kill a skunk. A single donkey will bond with chickens and make them his or her pack if there are no other donkeys around. It is best to have either a gelded male or a fixed female. The donkey is good at keeping raccoons, opossums and coyotes away.
Pet food and chicken feed left out overnight will attract the possum. Put all pet food and feed up at night in air tight metal containers. If you leave pet or chicken feed out a mother possum may end up nesting and having her young nearby because she wants to make sure of a steady food and water supply for her babies. Once she has the babies she will take over the area and any chickens are in immediate danger of being killed or having their face bitten off as the possum thinks the pet or chicken feed now belongs to her babies.
Line your coop with tin ten inches deep to prevent possums from chewing through
Possums can chew through wood in a matter of minutes to gain access to a hen house. Line the outside and inside bottom ten inches of the hen house with tightly fastened tin. They cannot chew through tin.
Do not leave eggs in the hen house overnight
The scent of the eggs will draw possums, skunks, raccoon's and other predators.
Strategically place ammonia and mothballs to get possums out of their hiding places
"Found out where the little uggos are hiding? Bombard them with stink. The most commonly recommended method of ousting opossums is by pouring some household ammonia in a coffee can and placing an old rag or towel in with it to act as a wick to help disperse the fumes. Do this everywhere that looks like a potential possum shelter. You don’t want to chase it out of one hiding hole and directly into another. Feel free to throw some moth balls around while you’re at it"(Ronning, 2016).
Use Fox or Wolf Urine as a Possum Repellent
Possums, raccoons, and skunks will not come near if they smell fox or wolf urine on your property. I have not used this method as I have read a few articles from people who used them and the urine actually attracted foxes and wolves to their property. True or not, I won't take that chance. I would rather try other means to get rid of a possum rather than attract a fox or wolf inadvertently.
Use Solar Powered Motion Detection Water Sprayer's at Night
Using solar powered motion detectors at night will spray any predator with water that comes near the area.
Use Solar Powered Predator Lights
Predator lights which have two red lights appear to be the eyes of another predator. The lights should be placed at approximate eye level of the predator you are trying to deter. If you have more than one kind of predator (most folks do) after your chickens you will need to get several predator lights and place them at different heights. Make sure you put one on each side of your chicken coop or run (Click Here to See Best Buys on Predator Lights).
Use Live Traps At Night
Set up live traps at night where you suspect possums or other predators may be lurking. Be sure to spring the traps in the morning or you will end up catching your own chickens and small pets. If you catch something in your traps, call your local animal control agency or forest ranger to arrange for them to pick them up. (See Click Here to See Best Buys on Live Traps)
Guardian Animals-I use dogs and a gelded male donkey as guardian animals for my chickens. Not all dogs are safe to be around chickens. Many breeds will actually kill chickens due to their natural instincts. Dog breeds most likely to be safe around chickens that I have found are Sheep dogs, Great Pyrenees, Blue Healer, Border Collie, Anatolian Shepherds. I have two dachshunds and a mini pin which take their job of protecting their chickens very seriously and are great at cornering skunks. One of my neighbors has a Border collie and Great Pyrenees mix breed dog which will actually kill a skunk. A single donkey will bond with chickens and make them his or her pack if there are no other donkeys around. It is best to have either a gelded male or a fixed female. The donkey is good at keeping raccoons, opossums and coyotes away.
Facts About Possum Reproduction
Female possums can have anywhere from 13 to 27 babies at one time but only have 13 nipples so all of the babies will not get fed and some will die of starvation. Since possums reproduce so quickly it is important to get rid of them as soon as you know they are around. Possums like to hang around chicken coops to steal eggs, eat feed, or eat a chicken so you would be wise to set traps for them at night and spring the traps in the morning before you let your chickens out. Possums drool or play dead if they get scared. Hence, where the saying, "Playing possum" originated from. Males are more aggressive than the females but females are great hunters and will kill chickens to feed their young. "Possums chewed a hole under my hen house and had babies. They were so cute. After they grew up we heard a lot of noise coming from the hen house in the middle of the night and when we went out to check seven chickens were dead and three were still running around with their face bitten off!" John H.(Ronning, 2016).
Dangers of setting out rat poison-Poison is not your best option
Setting rat poison out will kill more than likely kill a possum but if your chickens find and eat the poison they will die too. If you set out poisons be sure to put it away before you let your chickens out. Keep in mind if the poisoned possum, rat or mouse dies where your chickens hang out, it is quite possible that your chickens may pick at them and even eat parts of them which could accidently poison your chickens.
References: Ronning, Eric. D. (Retrieved Sept. 23, 2016).Best ways to get rid of Opossums. How to get rid of things. http://www.getridofthings.com/pests/animals/get-rid-of-opossum/
Dangers of setting out rat poison-Poison is not your best option
Setting rat poison out will kill more than likely kill a possum but if your chickens find and eat the poison they will die too. If you set out poisons be sure to put it away before you let your chickens out. Keep in mind if the poisoned possum, rat or mouse dies where your chickens hang out, it is quite possible that your chickens may pick at them and even eat parts of them which could accidently poison your chickens.
References: Ronning, Eric. D. (Retrieved Sept. 23, 2016).Best ways to get rid of Opossums. How to get rid of things. http://www.getridofthings.com/pests/animals/get-rid-of-opossum/
