Great Horned Owl

[micstrachan]

As I roam around the forums, I am listening to a great horned owl hooting up a storm outside. And a second one just chimed in. Maybe it’s a mating thing? Anyway, my girls have been locked up tight for over three hours, but I do wonder if these magnificant raptors will be a threat, especially if they end up raising babies. Anyone ever hear of great horned owls attacking chickens? My girls do get supervised free range time most days, andwe saw thisowl fly RIGHT overhead at dusk last year. My inderstanding is that normally only inexperienced owls will go for chi kens. Anyone have experience or knowledge on the subject?

 

[AmazingRachel]

Oh yes. The Great Horned Owls especially like chicks. The tell-tale sign of a Great Horned Owl attack are the heads ripped off the chicks' bodies. I'm sure the Owl wouldn't be afraid of going after a full-sized chicken, given their size.
I have no personal experience, just a lot of reading

 

[Whittni]

Yeah---hands down, they will attack and eat your chicks/chickens. Be proactive, not reactive whenever possible.

 

[micstrachan]

A Great Horned Owl can most definitely lift and carry away pret several times their own weight. Yikes, if they like chicks, I would say full grown chickens are definitely on the menu. I don’t let my chickens out without me, and usually have the dog running around, too, which I hope would deter the owls. But they are swift and strong, so maybe I’ll make the girls go back to therun before dusk.

 

[centrarchid]

Search "great-horned owl fun".

 

[R2elk]

As I roam around the forums, I am listening to a great horned owl hooting up a storm outside. And a second one just chimed in. Maybe it’s a mating thing? Anyway, my girls have been locked up tight for over three hours, but I do wonder if these magnificent raptors will be a threat, especially if they end up raising babies. Anyone ever hear of great horned owls attacking chickens? My girls do get supervised free range time most days, and we saw this owl fly RIGHT overhead at dusk last year. My understanding is that normally only inexperienced owls will go for chi kens. Anyone have experience or knowledge on the subject?

I had a flock of bantams all taken by a Great Horned Owl. The bantams roosted outside at night. My current flock is in no danger from the owls because they all roost inside a closed coop at night. I have had the owls roost in the trees during the daytime but have never had them take any of my poultry during the daytime.

 

[AmazingRachel]

So sorry to hear about your past bantam flock.
That picture of the owl though is beautiful.

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, beautiful picture and so sorry for your loss.

 

[Grace11]

Feb/Mar are generally mating season for most of the predator type birds.

 

[centrarchid]

Great -horned Owls breed earlier. Most have had eggs in the nest since early January.