![]() ![]() Possums might be a bit of a pest in some circumstances, but they also bring benefits to the backyard farm or homestead. “Opossum with baby in my backyard” by axollot is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 The Homestead Benefits of the Possum Diet Either way, the best approach is to be cautious and protect your eggs as fervently as you do your chickens. Research is all well and good, but there are plenty of people out there who will testify to catching possums in the act of eating chicken eggs. While the possums chomped enthusiastically on the bread and licked off the syrup, they didn’t attempt to break or eat any of the eggs. Scientific studies and field experiments say otherwise.Īndi Cockcroft performed a series of field experiments earlier this year, leaving out morsels of bread and chicken eggs slathered with syrup. It is commonly believed that, given access and opportunity, a possum will help himself to as many chicken eggs as he can stomach in a single sitting. Are Possums Responsible for My Disappearing Chicken Eggs? While unusual, it has been known for possums to take on mature hens, which are generally too big and intimidating for the average possum. They enjoy a varied diet and will happily prey on young chicks and steal eggs. With their strong, sharp teeth, possums are certainly capable of attacking and eating chickens. They’re not even related! Do Opossums Eat Chickens? One final thing – the American opossum is not the same as the Australian possum. Keep an eye on your pet food as well – possums will tuck into anything from chicken mash to dog food if it’s easy enough to access. Possums are also partial to frogs and roadkill – both of which supply them with much-needed calcium. In addition to the occasional rodent, possums will happily devour grain, fruits, and a variety of plants. Not only is the possum no rodent, it’s also not averse to the occasional rat snack, should such an opportunity present itself. With long, pointed faces and round, hairless ears, possums are sometimes mistaken for rats. These marsupials originated in South America but their flexible diet and ability to give birth to up to 20 young at a time have made them adaptable to a wide range of habitats. Standing about the height of a domestic cat, possums have been described as having a “ head like a swine … tail like a rat … of the bigness of a cat. “baby opossum” by foreversouls is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 Although the opossum is a passive animal, it’s also opportunistic and may be a danger to your smaller hens, and their eggs. ![]() Further, they have musk gland located behind the ears that are responsible for producing a rank scent.Whether you view the opossum as a friend or a fiend, finding one in your chicken coop is never a pleasant experience. ![]() Their tails are bushy unlike those of the opossum. Their colors are more diverse including black, chinchilla gray, and fox silver-gray and gold than those of opossums. The biggest possums rarely grow beyond the size of a house cat. The length of possums ranges from the length of a human finger to four feet, while their weight ranges from six ounces to 32 pounds.
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