Feather ID

[Apen]

Something was able to fly off with a buff orpington a small distance. The chicken just started laying. I found feathers of a different bird near the kill site. Some of the black parts look like they have a green sheen to them. I live in North East Ohio. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[centrarchid]

Not a Great-horned Owl that is most capable of carrying a load outside of an eagle. Feather shown does not appear to belong to any sort of raptor.

 

[Apen]

It could be a chicken feather from a few houses down. Is there a raptor that brings prey back to the same spot to eat? I've also noticed a huge owl the past week watching the chickens near dusk, it's not even that dark out and the owl has been watching them.

 

[centrarchid]

Go out and listen. If an owl that stays in a relatively small area, then likely an immature owl. The young ones make a sound like "shreeeee". They are generally not as skittish as adults. If Great-horned Owl then likely after something other than chickens as primary target. If a chicken killed, then they will keep coming back to it over a couple nights. I have messed with them myself and they can be a headache.

Click on link below to pull up threads on observations here. Somewhere is a recording of immature owls calling plus sounds chickens make when alarmed by owls.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/69623750/?q=great-horned+owl+fun&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Plotting his attack and getaway, no.doubt....

 

[Apen]

I don't know what to do. The owl is big, slightly larger than my adult buff orpingtons. I live in a wooded area and have a feeling his home is close. Do I stop free ranging them?

 

[centrarchid]

If Great-horned Owl, then most likely it is hunting between dusk and dawn. The owls are very fluffy, but not even as heavy as my 4.5 lb game hens. The are strong, especially those feet and you do not want one biting you. I free-range chickens during day without concern about owl issues during this time of year. During winter when overcast is when daytime can be more risky. Hawks and crows are your friend on this as they will go out of their way to harass an owl during the day. Keep free-ranging during day but make certain they get to roost and shut them up by dark. Read the links I provided as they provide some accounts concerning how the owl operate during twilight. Currently I invest a lot of effort training a group of young chickens in orchard that are to not roost in trees, rather they need to go to pens that I shut up at dusk. The owl here clearly watches chickens and me as nighttime approaches. I call it Butt Munch.

 

[cmom]

I have had owls kill some of my birds. Now I have heavy duty netting covering my pens which are large. Each pen is approximately 20' x 60'.
This may not look like a big owl but it was a Great Horned owl. I was wondering what was killing my birds as I could fine no place where a predator had entered the pens. I have two coops that are open on one side. Because of this owl I now have all of the pens covered with the netting. No more kills since.