A question about opossums

[hedgehog]

We've had one visiting our chicken coop on and off the last few days. It even was waiting for me when I got home from work the other day. I opened the door to let the chickens out and a while later the opossum strolled in. The chickens ignore it, so I figured it was after a warm spot, a little chicken feed and maybe some eggs. Tonight though, it was eating a chicken. This bird was rather elderly, so the question is

A. Did the opossum arrange for its chicken dinner?

or

B. Did the chicken die of old age and the opossum take advantage of the situation?

[efhmc]

1. Killed it and ate it. They will feast on anything they can get and LOVE

chicken houses, eggs, chicks, and chickens. On a positive side, they will eat snakes also.

[candle_bright]

2. Or C

Maybe the chicken was just playing possum and things went horribly wrong?

[BikeWriter]

3. I vote guilty as charged of chickencide!

[cornermouse]

4. possums eat chickens.

They could also potentially bite you. And you know that phrase "playing possum"? Its based on fact. Don't put your hand anywhere near it even if you THINK its dead.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. probably knocked something down on it then ate it

It probably made the chicken have an unfortunate accident, then ate it.

I once saw an oppossum struck on the side of the road.
Another possum was eating it.

Yuck. Ack!
:puke:

[hedgehog]

6. That reminds me of a story I'd forgotten

I had a hunter earnestly assure me that opossums killed off the dinosaurs by eating them from the tail on up. Perhaps I should say that this guy was more in the category of people who go into the woods and shoot things than a real hunter.

[hedgehog]

7. My husband was working on the car and spilled gasoline on his shirt

he's going to hang the shirt in the chicken coop. We figure it won't bother the chickens, but the smell should chase the opossum away.

[cornermouse]

8. Possum has found a food source.

I suspect a gasoline soaked shirt will not stop it. Either a live trap followed by relocation far, far away, if you don't want to harm it or a large dog, not hunting breed, preferably livestock guardian so it (the dog) won't eat the chickens instead of the possum. Alternatively, a small dog that makes a lot of noise.

[hedgehog]

9. How about a dog that plays with the chickens?

He likes to hide around the corner until they gather and then jump out barking at them so they fly off in all directions. I'm not sure he'd be much good for this. He specializes in barking at deer.

[cornermouse]

11. Did you try taking him to the coop while the possum was still there?

A little encouragement so that he realizes the possum is persona non grata as far as you're concerned wouldn't hurt.

[El Fuego]

10. The hedgehog has a question about possums!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!:7

[oneighty]

13. Yes indeed

Possums do not like hedgehogs

180

[El Fuego]

14. Thanks to the lib-bruls, possums will be marrying hedgehogs!!

[morningglory]

12. Possums eat their weight in roaches in a week. This is important if you

live waaaaaaay down south.