They KEEP coming! make that x4!

After trapping 3 of the beady eyed critters in the past 3 days, I’d say it is once again, Possum season. Just like last year, the first was bigger (probably mama) and those that follow are the smaller youngsters. I believe last year, we topped out at 8 or 9 so I’ll continue to set out the trap each evening until they are gone.

When we first noticed them (again), they were inside the coop in the barn but likely were just stealing eggs and didn’t mess with the birds. They can do much damage and decimate your flock,… if the conditions are right. But, they are opportunistic and typically won’t mess with adult birds during the day when they are awake and alert. If they were to get in the coop (or inadvertently locked in) after sundown, they will likely attack the sleeping birds on their perches. We are doing a better job of “sweeping” the barn at sundown now but there would still be plenty of places to hide and remain undetected so we’ll see how that goes.

Like the others, these are being released at a local trappers property so he can restore their numbers (which seem fine to me). But now, I am having second thoughts. The trapper told me that the very first one (that was shot last year), yielded about 12 ounces of “possum oil” that he is selling for $60/ounce!!!

Apparently, possum oil is a valuable commodity in antique firearm circles
(cap and ball, muskets, muzzle loaders), as a superior lubricant that doesn’t
break down over time as other oils do. So now, I am looking for YouTube videos
on rendering wild game. And from what I’ve seen, it’s not too difficult. Ka-CHING!

And on the “GOING” side of things

Today we lost one of our Cinnamon Queen auction hens. She’d been sick for a few weeks so it wasn’t too surprising. When I fed everyone this morning, she was still upright but had such a terrible posture that I knew her time had arrived. She didn’t move and ignored the food I brought to her in the infirmary. When I checked on them a few hours later, she was already on her side and stiff as…. a chicken in the supermarket. So, I prepared a fire in the burn barrel and she is “cooking” in there today as I write this.

She had long stopped producing eggs so it was just a matter of time before we had to decide to cull her anyway. So thank you Lillian, for saving us the trouble.

Update: 2/13/2025
Any suggestions dealing with that exotic skunk “fragrance” wafting in the air?

After waking the past 3 mornings to another possum captured in the live trap each day, I could tell today would be different before I even turned the corner to enter the chicken run. Sure enough, I managed to capture Pepe LePew. This is the 2nd time now. Like the previous time, this one took the “22” train to skunk heaven. I feel guilty dispatching a caged animal but what else can you do?

It had already released its “olfactorical delight” (likely when the trap sprung shut) but I wasn’t willing to be bathed in it to humanely let it out. Then, I dragged the trap to the far corner of the barnyard and will dispose of it in the woods later.

But for now, everything reeks. The chickens came out to eat but quickly ran back inside the coop so we moved their food inside for now. It’s also pretty cold (15 now, high of 30) so using the hose is out of question. We had to change our clothes so they could be thrown in the washer and am certain our noses are retaining some of it – but it’s much more intense outside the barn and wondering if there was a powder that could be applied to absorb the odor.

The area where the trap was located is gravel and was up against a pile of hay being stored under the lean to for Sherry’s goat farmer/friend. I think I’ll try to scoop out as much gravel as I can. But there won’t be much I can do if the hay got sprayed – other than insist they take it now, instead of later.