Barn Owls and chickens? Problem?

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DDRanch

DDRanch

Songster
12 Years
Feb 15, 2008
1,189
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California
This morning I noticed a barn owl in the nesting box we built 5 years ago on our property. I am thrilled that we have attracted a pair to our box. I am beyond thrilled in fact.

Now.....this owl box is located some 50 feet from our orchard AND where my chickens free range when I am home. Chickens are, of course, locked up nice and tight well before dusk. I have never had a problem with the owls that have nested in the trees above the orchard.

I honestly don't know how long this owl has taken up residence in the box, and the girls are out almost every day and do wander in front of the orchard and the nesting box.

I know owls are nocturnal but will they come out during the day and could they present a threat to my girls? I have the larger breeds.

Thanks for your comments.

anne
 
Barn owls are rarely a threat to chickens. On the very rare occasion they might grab a small chicken or chick but their standard prey is mouse sized rodents, maybe something as big as a rat or baby rabbit, and small birds. Even if they were left out overnight you probably wouldn't ever lose a chicken to a barn owl.
 
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Good to know. I agree completely with our luck to have them so near. There was a pair that nested in our eucalyptus trees for several years and we thoroughly enjoyed watching them rear their young. The only thing that "might" be better than chicken TV is Owl TV.
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(I can't believe I said that on this forum........) I take it back !!!
 
Older thread, but thank goodness for the info! I have had a family of barn owls living in two palm trees on my property for several years. We like to have dinner or wine on the roof and watch them raise their owlets. I'm building my coop nearly right under them. The large run is totally obscured by pepper trees, and will have wire over the top. Hopefully the owls will help keep the rodents out!
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Reviving this thread to remind people that barn owls at not a threat to your chickens. In fact, I hope to encourage them to nest on my property in the future!
 
Hi all,

Nice to see this thread reactivated. I can report our barn owls have been living happily and with NO threat whatsoever alongside my chickens for years now.

As someone else has pointed out, barn owls eat a tremendous amount of mice and small rodents, they are a blessing and very helpful to have around. And so much fun to watch in the early morning and evenings. Beautiful birds. We have a number of programs here in my county to place barn owl nesting boxes in the vineyards to keep rodents at bay.

We are all living in complete harmony.

Anne and the girls
 
I believe we may have a barn owl getting into our coop at night, but do not know sure for. Can someone post pics of some of the feathers and droppings of the barn owls they have around so I can compare what I have found? At first we thought it may be a saw-whet owl, but know I have no idea.
 
I don' have pictures but the most visable sign of nesting or roosting barn owls are the pellets they regurgitate. These pellets are oval/round shaped and contain the bones, fur, etc of the rodents and small mammals they eat. They are quite smelly too.

Since owls hunt at night, it would be unusual, I think, for them to be in your coop, unless they are coming in after mice. If there is an opening that would allow an owl to get into your coop, you could easily have racoons or other predators that could kill your chickens.

Hope this helps.
 

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