Yes, opossums do kill chickens. They are listed among the common predators of poultry by university extension services, and they will target eggs, chicks, and adult birds. That said, opossums are opportunistic omnivores, not specialized hunters. Eggs and chicks are their preferred targets, and attacks on full-grown chickens, while real, are less frequent than raids on nesting boxes.
How Opossums Attack Chickens
Opossums use their claws to kill chickens, often ripping birds open rather than delivering a clean bite. The aftermath of an opossum attack tends to be messy: torn-apart carcasses, sometimes with pieces scattered around the coop. They frequently eat only part of the bird, with the head being a common target. Ohio State University Extension notes that opossums may also attack the vent region, pulling out intestines. In some cases, birds survive the initial attack and are found walking with exposed intestines.
Opossums generally kill only what they plan to eat that day. They eat their prey where they killed it rather than dragging it away. This distinguishes them from raccoons, which often kill multiple birds in a single night (sometimes without eating them) and scatter carcasses across the yard.
Eggs and Chicks Are the Bigger Risk
Most chicken keepers encounter opossums as egg thieves long before they lose an adult bird. Opossums are strongly attracted to eggs, and a nesting box is an easy meal that requires no fight. The telltale sign is empty, crushed eggshells left near the nest. Chicks are similarly vulnerable since they can’t escape or defend themselves.
Diet studies on wild Virginia opossums paint a picture of an animal that eats almost anything. Researchers analyzing opossum scat in Oklahoma found insects in 63% of samples, plant material in over half, and birds in only about 15%. Opossums are scavengers and foragers first. Chickens aren’t a primary food source, but an opossum that discovers an easy way into a coop will keep coming back.
Opossum Kills vs. Raccoon Kills
If you’ve found a dead chicken and aren’t sure what got it, the scene itself offers clues.
- Opossums leave a messy, torn-apart carcass at the kill site. They typically eat part of the bird (often the head or abdomen) and leave the rest. Usually only one or two birds are killed.
- Raccoons bite the head or upper neck, often removing the head entirely and leaving it some distance from the body. They eat the breast, crop, and guts. Raccoons frequently kill multiple birds in one night and may scatter bodies across the yard.
Raccoon tracks are also noticeably larger than opossum tracks. If you find several dead chickens strewn far from the coop, a raccoon is the more likely culprit. A single partially eaten bird found where it died points more toward an opossum.
How Opossums Get Into Coops
Opossums are capable climbers. They can scale fences, trees, and the walls of coops, and they’re often found roosting above chickens on rafters or high perches. They’re also surprisingly good at squeezing through gaps. Any opening large enough for their skull is large enough for their body, which means holes of just a few inches can be an entry point.
Standard chicken wire is not a reliable barrier. Opossums and raccoons can tear through it or reach through the gaps. The widely recommended alternative is half-inch hardware cloth, a welded wire mesh with openings too small for paws or snouts to fit through. Experienced chicken keepers report that half-inch hardware cloth effectively excludes opossums, raccoons, weasels, foxes, and snakes when properly installed on all sides of the coop, including the bottom and any windows or vents.
Securing Your Coop
The most effective protection is eliminating entry points entirely. Cover all openings, including ventilation, with half-inch hardware cloth secured with screws and washers rather than staples (which can be pried loose). If your coop has a dirt floor, extend hardware cloth along the ground at least 12 inches outward to prevent digging underneath, or lay it across the floor itself.
Opossums are nocturnal, so locking your flock inside a solid coop at dusk is the single most important habit. A latch that requires two steps to open will stop raccoons and opossums alike, since both can figure out simple hook-and-eye closures. Collect eggs daily so you don’t give opossums a reason to investigate. Remove or secure any outdoor pet food, fallen fruit, or compost that could draw them to your property in the first place.
Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle opossums away temporarily, but a determined animal with an easy food source will get used to them. Physical barriers are always more reliable than deterrents.
Dealing With an Opossum on Your Property
If an opossum has already found your coop, fixing the entry point is the priority. Trapping and relocating the animal is illegal in many states. New York, for example, prohibits releasing a live-trapped animal anywhere other than the property where it was captured. Many other states have similar rules. If you need an opossum removed, contacting a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator is typically the legal route.
It’s also worth noting that opossums provide genuine benefits around a property. They eat enormous quantities of ticks, slugs, snails, and rodents. An opossum that can’t access your coop is a helpful neighbor rather than a threat. The goal for most chicken keepers isn’t eliminating opossums from the area but making the coop impenetrable so coexistence is possible.