Do I need to worry about this owl?

[annep]

I know, off the bat, most of you said YES as you read the title! But, here goes. We have a coop, and the run has bird netting on top. It's not totally secure, there are holes in it, but for the most part, it's solid. The run itself is built out of hardware cloth. There is a door for the chckens to get in and out of the coop thats about a foot high. I think it was left open last night. so, to my question.. Last night, I heard an owl. Do I need to worry about it? Will it find the weakness in the netting, walk into my coop and kill the chickens?
I have a Great Pyr that helps too.
thanks
Anne

 

[chicmom]

Hi Anne,

Your setup sounds pretty secure, but I would never say you don't need to worry. I have a setup similar to yours, and I will say that I've never had anything get inside and prey on my flock. I have occasionally forgotten to lock up, and I've been very lucky, considering my property is surrounded by a small woods. I've had chickens for five years now.

Not sure if I've been lucky, but I hope this makes you feel better.

Sharon

 

[Chookpensbuild]

search for weak points in your coop, and fix them, then you will be able to sleep peacefully

 

[Nambroth]

I know, off the bat, most of you said YES as you read the title! But, here goes. We have a coop, and the run has bird netting on top. It's not totally secure, there are holes in it, but for the most part, it's solid. The run itself is built out of hardware cloth. There is a door for the chckens to get in and out of the coop thats about a foot high. I think it was left open last night. so, to my question.. Last night, I heard an owl. Do I need to worry about it? Will it find the weakness in the netting, walk into my coop and kill the chickens?
I have a Great Pyr that helps too.
thanks
Anne

Hi Anne! With all respect, and having a working knowledge of owls... I think you have far more to worry from other night time predators such as raccoons, than you do from an owl. An owl is extremely unlikely to go into your coop and and then kill a hen even if it somehow accidentally gets in through your netting.
I won't say it's impossible, because I've learned that with wild animals, almost nothing is impossible. But it is wildly unlikely.

A raccoon or opossum, on the other hand, wouldn't think twice about intentionally breaking in!

 

[sourland]

I agree with Nambroth that you should have greater concerns with other predators, but do not discount the possibility of a GHO entering your coop and killing fowl. On two occasions I have had GHO enter a loft through unsecured bobs and kill pigeons. The owl was then unable to exit the loft and was found there the next morning. I no longer 'forget' to secure the bobs. Owls are very brazen and once a food source has been identified they will return until it is depleted.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Most owls, no.

There are a couple of species of large owls that are capable of killing chickens and they can get into places that a hawk will not attempt.

The Great Horned Owl can kill jack rabbits and skunks, so a chicken is right in it's preferred size range.

I suggest that you go and fix all the weak spots in your coop and then you won't have to stress over it.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I lost 5 lb ducks last year to a Great Horned Owl. I had deer netting on the top and it went through it. I agree with the previous poster to fix all gaps and feel secure. They are strong determined predators. I ended up with a metal roof over the run so I never have to worry.