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I live in an urban area, but I keep four Rhode Island Reds in my fenced backyard. I let them free range during the day and lock them in their coop at night. I've had them for three or four years now with very few problems from predators.
Last summer I dealt with a Hawk who terrorized my girls for about a week or so dive bombing at them throughout the day. The girls were better at running and hiding so the hawk moved on in search of easier prey. No losses.
A few weeks ago we got a visit from this smaller possum.
Once I got home after dark to lock up the coop and the possum was inside their coop but not aggressive. Actually looked like it was searching for leftover chicken feed. I chased it away. No losses.
This weekend I again got home later than normal and when I went to lock up the chickens I knew something was wrong. Two of the chickens were squawking in the yard alive and well. I found another frightened and hiding behind some wood. Looking for the fourth I kept finding piles of feathers and I pretty much gave up hope of a good outcome.
But I found her in a corner of the yard scared and with a silver dollar sized wound below her wing. The feathers and skin gone and literally the area is raw chicken meat.
I kept her indoors for a bit contemplating how I should treat the wound but in the end I decided to clean it and leave it be. For the most part it is covered by her wing and now almost a week later she seems to be healing fine. She was limping slightly at first but now is running well.
My son and I have strengthened the coop this weekend and I am making a better effort to get the girls locked up earlier if I won't be home until dark. I also have some sharpened garden tools near my back door in case I hear anything amiss at night. Unfortunately, I am limited in my defenses due to the proximity of my house to other houses and a school. I am still wondering whether the possum got brave enough to attack a chicken as big as itself or if this was the work of a raccoon or some other predator. I would think a raccoon would have finished the job.
Last summer I dealt with a Hawk who terrorized my girls for about a week or so dive bombing at them throughout the day. The girls were better at running and hiding so the hawk moved on in search of easier prey. No losses.
A few weeks ago we got a visit from this smaller possum.
Once I got home after dark to lock up the coop and the possum was inside their coop but not aggressive. Actually looked like it was searching for leftover chicken feed. I chased it away. No losses.
This weekend I again got home later than normal and when I went to lock up the chickens I knew something was wrong. Two of the chickens were squawking in the yard alive and well. I found another frightened and hiding behind some wood. Looking for the fourth I kept finding piles of feathers and I pretty much gave up hope of a good outcome.
But I found her in a corner of the yard scared and with a silver dollar sized wound below her wing. The feathers and skin gone and literally the area is raw chicken meat.
I kept her indoors for a bit contemplating how I should treat the wound but in the end I decided to clean it and leave it be. For the most part it is covered by her wing and now almost a week later she seems to be healing fine. She was limping slightly at first but now is running well.
My son and I have strengthened the coop this weekend and I am making a better effort to get the girls locked up earlier if I won't be home until dark. I also have some sharpened garden tools near my back door in case I hear anything amiss at night. Unfortunately, I am limited in my defenses due to the proximity of my house to other houses and a school. I am still wondering whether the possum got brave enough to attack a chicken as big as itself or if this was the work of a raccoon or some other predator. I would think a raccoon would have finished the job.
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