{"id":2806,"date":"2020-01-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/?p=2806"},"modified":"2020-01-27T09:37:00","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T15:37:00","slug":"will-opossum-eat-chickens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/28\/will-opossum-eat-chickens\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Opossum eat Chickens?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Opossum\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although not their first choice in meals, an opossum will eat chickens. Their diet mainly consists of eating insects, rodents, plants, fruit, and grain. They will also eat trash, dog or cat food and they are known for eating skeletal remains of dead animals, which are high in calcium. 
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One of the most beneficial things is the number of ticks, which can carry illnesses, they eat. It is believed that one opossum can eat up to 5,000 ticks a year. 
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It\u2019s not uncommon, after spending the weekend in the country, for us to come home with several ticks each. We try to be diligent about using bug repellent but sometimes we still come home with one. Lyme disease is a big concern.  
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We haven\u2019t seen opossum on our land, probably because we aren\u2019t out late at night. I\u2019ve thought about trying to bring some in, but with the coyotes<\/a> and other predators, they may not survive. When relocating animals, they can become a threat to the existing wildlife in the area, causing territorial issues. 
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Characteristics <\/strong>
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Opossums<\/a> are nocturnal. They sleep in burrows, fallen trees, crawl spaces under homes, or dens in wooded areas.  
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They are generally docile and not aggressive unless trapped or cornered. Juveniles will hiss and adults will \u201cplay possum.\u201d  This is a reflex and generally can\u2019t be controlled. They will foam at the mouth and even smell dead. It can take up to four hours to recover from this trance-like state. 
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I saw an opossum the other night scurrying into my neighbor\u2019s bushes. At first, I thought it was a small cat but then I saw the tail. My mind jumped to a rat but it was too big. Even though they resemble rats, they are not related at all. Opossums are marsupials and related to kangaroo and koala.
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\"opossum<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Opposum will have two litters of babies a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gestation is only 13 days then the babies move into the mother’s pouch. They will live there for 2-3 months. 
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The opossum’s lifespan is generally short somewhere between one and two years. 
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Their poop resembles that of a small dog or cat. 
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Fun fact: male opossum are called Jacks and females are Jills. The babies are referred to as Joeys.
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How to Keep Opossum Away 
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