large predatory birds in tennessee eating my chickens

[miachick]

Help! A large black bird is soaring above my chickens its so large it is casting shadow's ...very scary and all i have is a bb gun will a fake hoot owl scare him ?

 

[blucoondawg]

careful what you do with the bb gun, birds of prey are federally protected for some reason, I am not saying ignore the situation I am simply saying watch what you say....

 

[climb2safety]

Try putting up old cd's around where they graze. The reflection from the sun hitting them will help deter birds of prey.

 

[aart]

Has it actually eaten one? Maybe coop them up until the bird loses interest?

 

[Wendy64]

Could be a Turkey Vulture. I have only known them to eat on dead animals. I have seen them on beaches eating dead seals ect. Here is a link that might help you identify them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_Vulture I have many that fly over my house as well as Red Tail Hawks. I know when my Chickens go outside its going to be a whole new world for me and trying to keep them safe I not only have those listed above but Coyotes that run between the houses howling at night and Foxes. I have chosen to keep my girls in an enclosed run and will let them free roam when I am with them. Birds of prey have very good eye site so good luck

 

[flowera]

This sounds like a turkey vulture. I would put money on it. (I am an avid birder that worked for the National Audubon Society).

They are harmless and only eat dead carcasses.

Do not shoot birds with a bb gun. Or any animal for that matter.

 

[blucoondawg]

Vultures do on occasion kill chickens though the black vulture is more prone to doing so than the turkey vulture, there are other threads on this site and elsewhere on the subject.

 

[crazyfarmer]

if you have a co2 bb gun use it without the bb's. I use this to scare them off all the time. The sound is what scares them. I also live in Tennessee

 

[shmccarthy]

It is a turkey vulture's preference to eat carrion, not its only option. They will kill a live animal and eat it if they are desperate enough.
I'd try scaring it away before shooting at it. Chances are its more scared of you than you are of it and if it sees you as a "predator/threat" it will move on and find a meal elsewhere.

 

[miachick]

Okay so here's an update... I did use a decoy hoot owl sitting on the fence post and I haven't seen him or any of his friend's in months and as for the bb gun it wouldn't hurt or scare him just was letting everyone know that's all I had. I live in east Tennessee mtns and everyone around me has gun's except me and I was wondering if a fake owl would work. My neighbor more than likely shot them all and my decoy was just a waste of money oh well!