Need ideas dealing with killer owl.

[Nefertiti]

We've suffered several unexplained loses ,until Sunday night. My husband went out to check on ruckus in yard and came with a headles chicken, and a rather large owl. We took some picures of it ( it was, in fact, quite gorgeous) and then let it go because we were unsure of it's breed, and had no idea what else to do with it. It seems to me we should probably expect him to come back for some more "Free Meals" seeing how he's found this little place called my yard.....

 

[SpottedCrow]

Your best bet to protect your birds from the night time and day time predators is a safe place for them to hang out.
All birds of prey are protected by law, at least in the states, so it was good that you let Hootie go.

 

[bunch-a-chickens]

You can run twine across holes in whatever they stay in, or for a little more, patch it up with wood. If there's no coop, i'd build one.

 

[Nefertiti]

We have a coop, and several smaller runs (for broody hens, roosters and such) and a yard for the tukeys . Laying pullets and hens usually are 'in coop' , young chicks and extra roos in respective runs. Everthing has died back so much we let birds out of the pens more often so they can get some extra green. Matthew, our dog, does an excellent job of keeping strays and the coyotes away from the animals. We've had to deal with hawks ever since we started raising chickens, but this was my first contact with an owl.

 

[LisaJean]

Nefertiti, can you post some pics of the owl? I'd like to see it.

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
Me too! Sorry for your loss BTW.

 

[BamaChicken]

You can count on the Owl coming back and they will kill more than one bird a time. If they get a hen and the Rooster trys to intervene they will kill him then go back to the hen to eat the head and maybe a little further down. Cover all your pens is what I have decided I have to do. I have most completely covered but they have killed some very good chickens of mine.