About 5:30 this morning, I got woken by the sound of panicking chickens. I keep 6-12 laying hens in a coop out behind the cabin for eggs. I built a new coop last summer, an elevated miniature cabin with a run underneath (for when I'm not around,) and they free range all day when I'm gonna be home to keep an eye on them, as my place is literally in the middle of the woods, and there are predators everywhere.

The coop is built solid out of rough cut pine, with a tin roof. with one door in front, and one beneath, with a ramp that leads down to the run. The run is fully enclosed with 2"x4" welded wire, with the ends wire nailed to the 6x6 posts, then sandwiched by boards on the top and bottom. The wire is buried about 12" out from the bottom of the run to prevent digging. There is an access door framed and built to get into the run from outside. The run door and the coop door are both secured with hasps and lynch pins. The coop has been keeping coons out for over a year now, despite their every effort. The only predator issue I have had in the past year is a weasel last winter.

I walk outside this morning, and there is an adult, fully grown opossum chasing one of the hens around down INSIDE the run. I open the run door and he headed for parts unknown pretty quickly. I searched for hair on the welded wire fence surrounding their enclosed run, holes in the roof, dormers, the fence... nothing. The doors were both shut and latched. No signs of digging. No holes anywhere.

Is it possible for a opossum to squeeze through that 2"x4" welded wire hole!?! A young'n, I can see, but a full grown opossum the size of my house cat!? I just can't see how else he got in? I have a feeling he'll be back tonight.

I am just shocked that coons of all shapes and sizes haven't managed to get in, but that big ole opossum did. Either he squeezed through the fence, went in through the front door and had his buddy shut and lock it behind him, or he's a magician.

At any rate, what more can I possibly do to keep him and his buddies out at night?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-small-of-a-hole-can-a-possum-fit-into.844415/

I think he went through the fence or over it. They can climb better than a rock climber.

Title sounds like a country-western song from the 50s.

He was in there.....waiting.


Watching to see for you to bring home another 30 rack of Camo Busch Light.

In on George Jones thread.

You need hardware cloth all the way around and a gate that fits in a frame. Are there no chicken snakes where you live?

Not a doubt about it. Through it is easy for an opossum. The fence was 2" x 4" mesh. Not even a challenge.

Add that to the title and we have a certified gold country hit song!

Lawn chair, spot light, .410 shotgun, cooler of beer

You pickin up what i'm puttin down???

Busch Light/Camo can.........

If you say that three times fast into a mirror.....Mathman shows up......

Gotta watch that dude, turn yer back and he'll drop ice in yer whiskey.........

Dozen headaches in that box.....at least.

The Magic Grinner

He's got good taste. However, I drink the light variety.

The camo can makes it taste even better.

if said possum critter could get his head through it, he could get his body through it.

extra points: if you build him a coop of his own, and fatten him up, will he be good to eat?

In an empty trough

Snapping turtle vs opposum

Let God sort it out

Redneck colosseum!

I love it.

HEY! That's some scary stuff!

I just thought it, I never said it out loud!

Ed

Possum in chicken soup? Never tried it.