A Barred Owl!

[SurferchickinSB]

I'm new to chickens. I worried that my pullets were not cautious enough. They show no fear on my dog, even walking under his legs. I feared they wouldn't react if coyotes showed up. But they did seem to have instinct to scatter and hide when something scared them on Wednesday.

Yeah, mine are the same with my dogs, but just like the dogs know when something is different in the yard, the chickens know too.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Yeah, mine are the same with my dogs, but just like the dogs know when something is different in the yard, the chickens know too.

That good to know. Thank you

 

[SurferchickinSB]

That good to know. Thank you

I always put all my chickens waterers and food stations underneath cover of bushes, trees or growing tunnels, because I feel like that is the time when they may not be paying enough attention to what is above them if they are eating or drinking.

 

[cmom]

I don't really know except the one Owl that was up in a tree here left because the crows began to pester it in the morning..I never seen it again..

I encourage the crows to come around. They will chase hawks and owls away. Several years ago before I put the netting over my pens, I have 2 coops that are open on one side which I have since put a tarp up over the open side, an owl killed several birds. I couldn't figure it out until I put a game camera up, what was killing the birds because I couldn't find any entry places, surprise... I do have video of it killing a bird.

I had a dozen birds in this pen and the owl was picking them off. I had these three left to build my Rhode Island White flock back up with. The owl damaged one of the females comb. I took them out and put them in another coop and pen I could shut up, they were really freaked out, but with time recovered.

 

[chickens really]

I encourage the crows to come around. They will chase hawks and owls away. Several years ago before I put the netting over my pens, I have 2 coops that are open on one side which I have since put a tarp up over the open side, an owl killed several birds. I couldn't figure it out until I put a game camera up, what was killing the birds because I couldn't find any entry places, surprise... I do have video of it killing a bird.
View attachment 1901893
I had a dozen birds in this pen and the owl was picking them off. I had these three left to build my Rhode Island White flock back up with. The owl damaged one of the females comb. I took them out and put them in another coop and pen I could shut up, they were really freaked out, but with time recovered.
View attachment 1901900

Oh my..Jeepers that sucks..

 

[imnukensc]

I encourage the crows to come around. They will chase hawks and owls away. Several years ago before I put the netting over my pens, I have 2 coops that are open on one side which I have since put a tarp up over the open side, an owl killed several birds. I couldn't figure it out until I put a game camera up, what was killing the birds because I couldn't find any entry places, surprise... I do have video of it killing a bird.
View attachment 1901893
I had a dozen birds in this pen and the owl was picking them off. I had these three left to build my Rhode Island White flock back up with. The owl damaged one of the females comb. I took them out and put them in another coop and pen I could shut up, they were really freaked out, but with time recovered.
View attachment 1901900

That is a Great Horned Owl. Different species than a Barred Owl and a real danger to chickens as you unfortunately found out.

 

[Biddybot]

We have barred owls and I've seen them sitting out by the road on the wires in the middle of the day, watching for mice rooting around in the ditches. Usually they don't stay long, at least not once the crows discover them! Despite their size, not really dangerous to adult standard chickens and feisty bantams IMO. They prefer small prey, even insects...their talons are relatively weak compared to some other owls. That said, I'd be a little cautious if they appear to be watching a hen with chicks or some recently abandoned chicklets that are on their own and still quite small...robin to dove-sized, maybe. That's more the sort of prey a barred owl would be interested in.

 

[NHMountainMan]

We have barred owls and I've seen them sitting out by the road on the wires in the middle of the day, watching for mice rooting around in the ditches. Usually they don't stay long, at least not once the crows discover them! Despite their size, not really dangerous to adult standard chickens and feisty bantams IMO. They prefer small prey, even insects...their talons are relatively weak compared to some other owls. That said, I'd be a little cautious if they appear to be watching a hen with chicks or some recently abandoned chicklets that are on their own and still quite small...robin to dove-sized, maybe. That's more the sort of prey a barred owl would be interested in.

I'm pretty new to the chicken world, and I know it's near impossible to avoid predators forever if they are allowed out of the run. Something scared the heck out of them. When I saw it was just a barred owl I was relieved for sure. But I was also glad to see that they had the instinct to hide to protect themselves.

 

[centrarchid]

Mine are also very scared of Barred Owls even though not much of a threat. The chickens do not see the Barred Owls and Great-horned Owls enough to tell them apart.

 

[WthrLady]

I always put all my chickens waterers and food stations underneath cover of bushes, trees or growing tunnels, because I feel like that is the time when they may not be paying enough attention to what is above them if they are eating or drinking.

Yup, you could probably carry me away too when I have a pepperoni pizza within grabbing distance.