I awoke to strange sounds in my new house last night at 3am... Of course, there are many strange sounds in a new house, but this was loud and downstairs, so I went down to investigate... To my horror I found the possum had pushed the birdcage off its stand and onto the pavers and the cage hard partially came apart, all the food was all over the ground.

 

Luckily, I had moved my new birds into the larger cage and put them in the garage because it was so cold and windy outside..

 

But now I wonder, how much damage can a Possum do? What sort of precautions can I take against them? I've never had possums before anywhere I've lived, any help would be appreciated.

possums can do a lot of damage I would guess very much like raccoons, I would get them out ASAP

They seem to be more nuisance value than anything, and your possum seemed to be after food. You can get possum traps that catch them alive, and rehome the possum, or you could ensure your birds are safely elsewhere and m,aybe leave a plate out of fruit and vegies for the possum ?

They seem to be more nuisance value than anything, and your possum seemed to be after food. You can get possum traps that catch them alive, and rehome the possum, or you could ensure your birds are safely elsewhere and m,aybe leave a plate out of fruit and vegies for the possum ?

 

Thanks Kaz. I was thinking of getting a small avairy, would that keep the possums at bay?

They seem to be more nuisance value than anything, and your possum seemed to be after food. You can get possum traps that catch them alive, and rehome the possum, or you could ensure your birds are safely elsewhere and m,aybe leave a plate out of fruit and vegies for the possum ?

 

Thanks Kaz. I was thinking of getting a small avairy, would that keep the possums at bay?

Since the only thing they can do is knock over a cage looking for food, an aviary for the birds will be better. If you like having possums around maybe put a plate of food out for them too. :hap:

In case you are wondering ....... No, possums do not eat budgies.

Like possums? /boggle...

 

okay in nature maybe, but not my roof or backyard :hap:

 

 

 

In case you are wondering ....... No, possums do not eat budgies.

 

Thanks Derek, the thought had indeed crossed my mind though I was more worried about them destroying the cage and setting my pretties free. I have the doors pegged though too, so that might help unless the cage falls apart!

That is not true, if they are Brushtail possums, which are one of the most common, I have read where they can even eat poultry, but I have had them get in my hens house & they didn't do anything, they were only interested in the pellets.

 

Probably they were just after the bird's grain, but I would do what Kaz says, put the cage in a protected.area where they can't get access to it. Once you get an aviary that birds can't get out of I doubt if possums could get access, but they could scare birds at night. Myself I wouldn't recommend feeding them, as they can have two young a year & even without feeding they are almost in plague proportions here & eat most edible things in the garden.

 

I used to wish that I lived where I could feed possums, now I do, I found out it ain't that much fun.

Edited May 19, 200816 yr by Norm

That is not true, if they are Brushtail possums, which are one of the most common, I have read where they can even eat poultry, but I have had them get in my hens house & they didn't do anything, they were only interested in the pellets.

 

Probably they were just after the bird's grain, but I would do what Kaz says, put the cage in a protected.area where they can't get access to it. Once you get an aviary that birds can't get out of I doubt if possums could get access, but they could scare birds at night. Myself I wouldn't recommend feeding them, as they can have two young a year & even without feeding they are almost in plague proportions here & eat most edible things in the garden.

 

I used to wish that I lived where I could feed possums, now I do, I found out it ain't that much fun.

 

Interesting, thanks Norm. Yes he was after the food, not sure whether it was seed or egg & Biscuit in particular that he was after, but he was sitting where it all fell eating it until I scared him off.

 

 

Is there any info around on what constitutes a good avairy (such as not building one out of treated pine)? I know personal opinions differ on the subject, but it would be interesting to see a thread on the subject. I had ideas of air locks and the like, but given that I am currently in a rental while waiting for my house to be built, I need something small and portable, but big enough to protect against carpert snakes, butcher birds, cold weather and now possums!

Have a read through the Aviary Board at the many that people have built. Some good info there.

 

I am in a rental and have one. Posted details about it here http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=18798

I think you should do both, get an aviary ( i rent too ) and Put a plate of food out of night for the possums, Or get the Humane traps and rehome them ......

Check your roof too as they can get in there aswell.....

Norn

 

That's "an old wives tale" as Grandma used to say.

 

As one who has studied Australian animals I can assure you that they are not predators. Why if they were they would eat every baby bird in the nest in their territory and you would see a decline to extinction of every bird type in the country that just does not happen.

 

Whenever they come into houses or peoples yards it is in search for food. Scraps in chook pens, chicken pellets, budgie seed and whatever people are feeding them.

 

Definately not carnivores.

 

Not wanting to disagree with everyone here today but you SHOULD NOT feed any wild birds and animals in your backyard. It is frowned upon by wildlife experts, can cause disease and can upset the balance within territories and cause fights, sometimes to the death.

 

Off my soap box.

 

 

Derek

Definately DON"T FEED THE POSSUM!!! You will never get rid of it them!

It will poop everywhere outside, if you have fabric on your outdoor furniture it's claws will rip it to shreds and they may cause the birds to panic and kill themselves by flying headfirst into a wall.

I lost 6 birds in one night this way.

My neighbour used to feed the possums as they bred on her verandah but they ended up causing thousands of dollars damage.

The council isn't interested in helping because we are "rural" and "should expect visiting wildlife".

I agree with Karen and Dave don't feed them they are a nuisance animal and though they don't eat the budgies, the poops can cause disease, they do destroy as Karen said and they can wreak your aviary trying to get in or out and you may end up having holes and missing birds from them escaping. Possums here in the US can be a nuisance.

Oh I have no intention of feeding the little blighters, they have reserved forest land nearby where they can go get their own food, and I certainly don't want to attract more of them!

l'm glad that there where no budgies in there.

even if the opossum do not eat budgies, the opossum could have injured the budgies by frightening them and causing them to fly crazy and crash into things or even give them a heart attack. also the opossum could leave a hole in the cage and the budgies could escape.