Daring barn owl

[Miss Red]

For the past few nights, I have been listening to the local barn owl hooting not to far from my house. I figured I would let him stick around, as my birds are all twice his size and he couldn't carry one off if he tried, in case a mouse / rat / snake fell into his line of sight.

Last night I was sitting on the back porch, listening to the crickets and looking up at the stars, when I heard a commotion behind me. What did I see when I turned around? A three foot tall, rather angry looking owl. He had That Darned Chick in his left foot, and was daring me to take her back. TDC was raised on my front porch, and is as brave about coming in the house as Piggy, so I wasn't about to allow this MONSTER of an owl run off with her. That was a fight lost, when he opened his beak and threatened me I decided if he was brave enough to land that close he could have her. I threw a bunch of papers at him and ran in the house like a scared little kid.

I'm not sure if he did or didn't finish off TDC, I have yet to see her today and her roost was empty of Chicken droppings. I live in East Texas and have never seen a horned owl that BIG before. I thought I was listening to the barn owl that was roosting in the neighbors garage, not this GIANT bird. Thought I'd share that bit of information, I know it scared me half to death when he threatened back hah.

 

[noodleroo]

We have 'em that big in Rockport, Tx. We have property on the bay and I see one fairly regularly sitting on a telephone pole right before dark. I'm guessing he's between 3 and 4 feet tall. He'd scare me that close, too. Sorry about your chicken...hope that's the last one he gets.

 

[hilareee]

barn owls don't hoot, they screech. they're also fairly small- about a pound. great horned owls, however, are quite large. i'm not sure what you have in texas, but hopefully this guy won't consider your yard a buffet!

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Barn owls are small, and never get taller than 2 feet. And like the poster above, they don't hoot....it's a bone chilling screech. Most likely a great horned owl is your culprit. They are known to carry off and eat small dogs and cats.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

didn't know owls get that big...there was a post on here awhile back about a lady that tried to rescue her chicken from a hawk and it attacked her with 3 inch long talons and messed up her arm badly, be glad you did not attack it and vice versa. sorry for your hen though. it's like losing a child.