Dead owl INSIDE coop!!

[Tchrmom]

Last night we lost a hen—gone with out a trace and no signs of a fight. THEN this morning found this beauty DEAD inside the coop!

We found NO BLOOD OR OBVIOUS INJURIES anywhere on anyone…

We live on the edge of a nature preserve so lots of wild creatures. Everything is fenced off. We have had hens for many years—same location same coop and run….have NEVER experienced anything like this….

Any thoughts would be very helpful!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What a gorgeous barn owl. I might suspect it hit a wall and broke it's neck.

 

[Livia Ammon]

Oh my goodness! I would recommend contacting local authorities, as owls are a protected species and harming them is illegal in many places. Being the one to come for ward will make you seem less suspicious.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Was it inside the coop or the run? If inside the coop it needs reinforcement!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

When you report it, show them this pic of it in situ (where you found it) to show you didn't kill it.

 

[Tchrmom]

Was it inside the coop or the run? If inside the coop it needs reinforcement!

We close and lock the co-op every evening—but this may have been at dusk when we were at church….

 

[WingItRanch]

Wow. Poor beautiful thing. My guess is that's the what happened to your disappearing chicken. Most likely the owl got in to get another snack and couldn't get back out and hurt itself. I wouldn't be surprised if the chickens panicking and flapping around caused it to crash into a wall.

 

[tlcmurphy]

The owl might have scared your hen out of the coop. Keep an eye out for her today.

 

[Folly's place]

Call your DNR tomorrow, have it evaluated, and there might be a nest nearby. Beautiful bird!
Mary

 

[atomic]

What a gorgeous owl, even in death. What a shame for both birds.