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Try putting deer netting over locations owl is accessing run through. Assume it will walk in on ground as well. If owl does challenge deer netting it may get hung so be prepared to use towel to subdue and scissors to cut netting for release. Such will likely give owl pause for subsequent visits.

The competition and habitat degradation effects do not require chickens and other species to be active at same time. Chickens consuming all forages, cleaning up grains, and tearing up leaf-beds during day are just as effective as if they might be done at night. Snakes can get tough to catch...

Frogs, lizards and snakes are removed largely via direct predation by chickens. Some reduction from loss of habitat (leaf piles and protective vegetation) and competition for the same invertebrate prey. Mice in my experience are more effected by competition where chickens eat much of the forage...

You may come from very close to here I am from. Some changes in rodent and snake abundance are not cause and effect. Also our poultry keeping hard on snakes in generally. The biggest threat to my snakes are my chickens. Chickens readily consume small snakes of all stripes even when poisonous.

Losses I suffered are a lot less than you have suffered and I stopped it even with owls coming in every night. Penning your birds up is often the best practice if dogs currently not up to the task of running the owl off. Look into setting up coop / roost so all birds must enter on foot. Then...

With next bird loss, consider leaving the deheaded carcass out. Then explore methods to keep owl from getting at the carcass. Try to use methods that can be adapted to where your birds roost. My place crawls with GHO's at times and they can be beaten without actually going after the owls...

I am starting to get handy at dealing with Great-horned owls. They visit me when moon is near full particularly in the fall and spring. I pen vulnerable birds first. Owls usually then probe area each night trying to catch stray juveniles or adults roosting too close to pen wall. Nightly...