Buzzards

[K-12 Chickens]

I have Turkey Vultures soar frequently over the yard and once, I had one soar extremely close to the ground. The chickens were somewhat freaked out, but I think the vulture was just trying to catch a thermal. My hens can tell the difference between a a vulture and a hawk soaring overhead and when they see a vulture, they barely glance up because it is hardly a danger to them. If you have plenty of trees where the chickens roam, the vultures tend to stay away because its hard for them to land in such dense stuff. I wouldn't worry about your chickens otherwise though.

 

[Sylverfly]

Buzzards, at least the ones in north America, even ones as large as the California condor can not pick up and fly away with prey they lack the muscle and tendon structure found in raptors or birds of prey. They have a foot designed much more closely to that of an average turkey. Not to say they are not harmless they could land on a chicken and peck, and tear at it until it was killed, but that is extremely unlikely to happen. They prefer dead soft meat already beginning to break down. They are unlikely to attack any animal unless they think it will not fight back, meaning very very sick, weak, or wounded and near death, and then they prefer to hang around until the creature has expired. Most have large areas of flesh exposed on their heads and so although they stay cleaner they also have no protection from feathers if what they eat decides to put up a fight. They can fly away with things in their beaks though, I've seen them carry away dead snakes in an effort to not have to share with their buzzard buddies. so small chicks, ducklings, pocket pets and the like could be another story if the bird was hungry enough.

 

[Ascholten]

I have seen vultures / buzzards, eating baby pigs right as they are being born. They WILL hunt if they feel like it. Like most predators / meat eaters. protein needers... they are opportunistic hunters, eaters. If something presents itself, there they are.

I have asked several friends who raise chickens about this and they say that if the chicks are young, they could be a problem, or sick, they could also be a problem, but otherwise never really had a problem with them if the bird is healthy and able to move about without hindrance.

Ive also heard that here in florida there is some sort of migratory sea bird, that can occasionally prey on chickens, I can't remember what he said the name was but, I generally go by the saying that... "It Taste Like Chicken!!!" and humans are not the only thing that likes chicken for dinner, lunch, whatever.

Aaron

 

[Rldad1]

Turkey Buzzards are usually OK but Black Buzzards will attack chickens and infant animals. The Turkey Buzzards have red heads and the Black Buzzards have black heads as their name indicates.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Turkey Buzzards are usually OK but Black Buzzards will attack chickens and infant animals. The Turkey Buzzards have red heads and the Black Buzzards have black heads as their name indicates.

Here along the border of central VA/NC Black Buzzards have been reported to prey on calves, goat kids and lambs. And as the other poster stated, cows during the birthing process have been targeted as well. I once saw a couple of dozen Black Buzzards completely devour a large deer that had been hit by a car in about 45 minutes.

 

[Ascholten]

Those buzzards are not to be played with. Many farmers have issues with them, I know a goat farmer that absolutely hates them, because the goats sometimes are too stupid to go into the barn to have their babies, and the buzzards will just wait and feast. The mothers, when they are birthing, are pretty much helpless to move or protect their young, these birds know it, and take advantage of it.

Aaron

 

[cmom]

We have them here and so far they haven't made an attempt to get my birds.

 

[Ascholten]

I got a few circling my house when I let the chickens out. They never dive bombed or anything, and there is a huge flock of them actually. Luckily im kind of rural, yes I live in a subdivision which sucks and id do it differently now that I know. but there is farms and chickens all around me so maybe I don't need to worry as much since I am not the only cackle source around. I just worry for my girls and don't want anything to happen to them, or have to start .... doing things ....to protect them...
Aaron