Barn Owls and chickens? Problem?

[ArtGirlJenn]

Oh, yes, that makes perfect sense. Then most likely not an owl, but I wonder what kind of bird it is. In the mornings when going into the coop to let the chickens out, I have found bird dropping and this morning a feather, in the prep area of the coop. The prep area is seperated from the main coop by a screened wall so no way for this night visitor to get in with the flock. Odd.

 

[CasaRosie]

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.

 

[CasaRosie]

When I noticed a barn owl in my tree, I came right here too see of it was going to be a problem, especially since my girls choose to sleep in odd places. This answer reassured me. But at 1:55am (just 15 minutes ago) my full size adult girls started to put up a huge fuss, waking me from a sound sleep.
I went outside to find one of my Easter eggers being attacked by said owl!
So I can categorically state that yes, barn owls enjoy chicken treats if they can get them...even the big ones!
(The egger appears to be ok)

 

[centrarchid]

When I noticed a barn owl in my tree, I came right here too see of it was going to be a problem, especially since my girls choose to sleep in odd places. This answer reassured me. But at 1:55am (just 15 minutes ago) my full size adult girls started to put up a huge fuss, waking me from a sound sleep.
I went outside to find one of my Easter eggers being attacked by said owl!
So I can categorically state that yes, barn owls enjoy chicken treats if they can get them...even the big ones!
(The egger appears to be ok)

Show a picture of your said Barn Owl.

 

[cmom]

Yesterday morning when I went out to check my birds and cameras, I found a dead headless bird in one of the pens. I suspect a Great Horned Owl because that is what I have seen here and the only breach I found was in the netting over that pen. I did hear an owl in a Eucalyptus tree that is next to the house the night I lost the bird. I put another piece of netting over that pen but I'm going to replace it with some better netting. The only other predator I saw on camera was a fox but didn't find any breach other than the breech in the netting. This morning all is well.

 

[cmom]

Yesterday morning when I went out to check my birds and cameras, I found a dead headless bird in one of the pens. I suspect a Great Horned Owl because that is what I have seen here and the only breach I found was in the netting over that pen. I did hear an owl in a Eucalyptus tree that is next to the house the night I lost the bird. I put another piece of netting over that pen but I'm going to replace it with some better netting. The only other predator I saw on camera was a fox but didn't find any breach other than the breech in the netting. This morning all is well.

 

[CasaRosie]

Show a picture of your said Barn Owl.

This is the best shot I have. It has a huge light colored wingspan.

 

[cmom]

I just lost a couple of birds this week to an owl. I took the birds out of that coop and put them in another coop. I recently repaired my netting covering my pens, so I thought, An owl found a breach killed a bird, just took the head. I put another piece of netting that I had across the area and thought it was good. Nothing the next night but the following night it happened again. No head and no breaches except in the crappy netting. I put some good netting up today but it was a piece and pretty much covered the crappy netting. I put it over the crappy netting so I can take the it down. I have a camera in the pen to see if it appears tonight.
Last night.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like a great horned owl.

 

[sourland]

I agree that appears to be a Great Horned Owl.