Osprey Hanging Around

[soospickle]

Hi all!
There have seen several Osprey hanging around our place this week. I heard them before I saw them and let me tell you, I have never collected my chickens so fast in my life! They have been in their covered run ever since, but I feel bad not letting them free range. I definitely value their lives more than letting them out and exposed, as they are mainly pets with benefits for us, but I don't want to keep them in forever (maybe I'm being super protective/paranoid). Does anyone have experience with Osprey and the best way to keep them uninterested in my flock? I even thought about sewing them little reflective/shiny fabric vests for when they are out and around the yard, lol. I have attached their photos for cuteness!

 

[50-45-1]

I live next to tall radio and cell phone towers and Osprey commonly will land up on top of those towers and eat the fish they have cought. They are also quite amazing to watch when their fledglings circle as they are taught how to hunt and live.
My free range chickens would be easily seen from up there and not once in 50 years have they shown any interest in coming down and taking one.
Your population of hawks will be your worry. They fly lower and within concealment of trees. You likely will not see them coming and neither will the chickens.
A sharp shin hawk (about the size of a morning dove) killed several of my birds a few years ago.
They of course could not take the chicken, bit just ate there fill and came back for a meal another day.
Free ranging is always risky
Good luck!
Your girls are beautiful!

 

[nuthatched]

Osprey are fish hawks, they will likely never be interested in your chickens.

 

[soospickle]

I live next to tall radio and cell phone towers and Osprey commonly will land up on top of those towers and eat the fish they have cought. They are also quite amazing to watch when their fledglings circle as they are taught how to hunt and live.
My free range chickens would be easily seen from up there and not once in 50 years have they shown any interest in coming down and taking one.
Your population of hawks will be your worry. They fly lower and within concealment of trees. You likely will not see them coming and neither will the chickens.
A sharp shin hawk (about the size of a morning dove) killed several of my birds a few years ago.
They of course could not take the chicken, bit just ate there fill and came back for a meal another day.
Free ranging is always risky
Good luck!
Your girls are beautiful!

This definitely gives me some comfort! Luckily we haven’t seen hawks around (yet), this is the only ‘raptor’ we had since I started one year ago. I’m so sorry to hear about your previous experience with hawks, it can’t be easy!

 

[soospickle]

Osprey are fish hawks, they will likely never be interested in your chickens.

Thank you! This definitely makes me less nervous.

 

[NSMermaid]

Hi all!
There have seen several Osprey hanging around our place this week. I heard them before I saw them and let me tell you, I have never collected my chickens so fast in my life! They have been in their covered run ever since, but I feel bad not letting them free range. I definitely value their lives more than letting them out and exposed, as they are mainly pets with benefits for us, but I don't want to keep them in forever (maybe I'm being super protective/paranoid). Does anyone have experience with Osprey and the best way to keep them uninterested in my flock? I even thought about sewing them little reflective/shiny fabric vests for when they are out and around the yard, lol. I have attached their photos for cuteness!


View attachment 3591570View attachment 3591571

Osprey definitely will take your chickens, I speak from experience having lost 2 chickens to osprey this summer.
I've seen them swoop down and perch on a 4' tall post ready to take a chicken but I've chased them away first. Most times I hear their chirping so I can defend my chickens.

My crows that I've been feeding for ten years also warn me and chase the osprey away, but despite all this they've still taken two of my chickens.

It isnt hawks because a hawk will swoop down and kill and eat the chicken on the spot, I've chased them away as well. But you will find evidence if it was a hawk that took your chicken.

Osprey sneak down and carry them away without leaving a trace. Even though they are mainly fish eating birds I can tell you they will take a chicken because I have seen it happen. They are a scourge here where I live on the coast in Nova Scotia so beware the chirping sound.

 

[SamLockwood]

Hi all!
There have seen several Osprey hanging around our place this week. I heard them before I saw them and let me tell you, I have never collected my chickens so fast in my life! They have been in their covered run ever since, but I feel bad not letting them free range. I definitely value their lives more than letting them out and exposed, as they are mainly pets with benefits for us, but I don't want to keep them in forever (maybe I'm being super protective/paranoid). Does anyone have experience with Osprey and the best way to keep them uninterested in my flock? I even thought about sewing them little reflective/shiny fabric vests for when they are out and around the yard, lol. I have attached their photos for cuteness!

If they're passing through, keeping your flock locked up for a week or two will probably cause them to lose interest. If they're locals you'll have to figure out some way to discourage them.

I haven't found that shiny objects really deter birds of prey. If they work at all, it doesn't take long for them to realize the flashes of light aren't really dangerous.

You can't trap or kill birds of prey, they're federally protected since 1917. You are allowed to harrass or annoy them, and I have a hand-pumped air horn for that purpose.

It also helps to have low ground cover for your chickens to scurry to. Part of the reason I have fewer hawk problems in summer is that a lot of the natural ground cover in the woods around my house comes in, and my flock is experienced enough that if they see something flying in they dive into the bushes.

I also keep their waterers and feeders under cover, and I even built a couple simple mini-shelters in the yard they can scurry under if need be.

If every time the ospreys come by your yard your birds are diving under cover and you're blasting at it with a horn they might decide your yard isn't worth the bother. Even then, I'd avoid free-ranging during late fall and early spring: I have the most problem with raptor attacks at those times. I get migrating hawks and eagles that come by, and they're often a lot more aggressive than the locals.

 

[soospickle]

Osprey definitely will take your chickens, I speak from experience having lost 2 chickens to osprey this summer.
I've seen them swoop down and perch on a 4' tall post ready to take a chicken but I've chased them away first. Most times I hear their chirping so I can defend my chickens.

My crows that I've been feeding for ten years also warn me and chase the osprey away, but despite all this they've still taken two of my chickens.

It isnt hawks because a hawk will swoop down and kill and eat the chicken on the spot, I've chased them away as well. But you will find evidence if it was a hawk that took your chicken.

Osprey sneak down and carry them away without leaving a trace. Even though they are mainly fish eating birds I can tell you they will take a chicken because I have seen it happen. They are a scourge here where I live on the coast in Nova Scotia so beware the chirping sound.

Thank you for your reply! It reinforces my caution. I also live on the east coast of Canada (NL) so we see them every now and again and we've been seeing more eagles this year than last. I'm sorry about your chickens being taken.

 

[soospickle]

If they're passing through, keeping your flock locked up for a week or two will probably cause them to lose interest. If they're locals you'll have to figure out some way to discourage them.

I haven't found that shiny objects really deter birds of prey. If they work at all, it doesn't take long for them to realize the flashes of light aren't really dangerous.

You can't trap or kill birds of prey, they're federally protected since 1917. You are allowed to harrass or annoy them, and I have a hand-pumped air horn for that purpose.

It also helps to have low ground cover for your chickens to scurry to. Part of the reason I have fewer hawk problems in summer is that a lot of the natural ground cover in the woods around my house comes in, and my flock is experienced enough that if they see something flying in they dive into the bushes.

I also keep their waterers and feeders under cover, and I even built a couple simple mini-shelters in the yard they can scurry under if need be.

If every time the ospreys come by your yard your birds are diving under cover and you're blasting at it with a horn they might decide your yard isn't worth the bother. Even then, I'd avoid free-ranging during late fall and early spring: I have the most problem with raptor attacks at those times. I get migrating hawks and eagles that come by, and they're often a lot more aggressive than the locals.

Thank you for your reply! Since I posted this last year we have reinforced our outdoor run they have brush and shelters outside but we also don't let them go out unsupervised. I'm definitely not interested in trapping anything. I'm also not sure of the provincial legislation regarding that here, my assumption would be protection under the migratory bird act OR wildlife and fisheries protection. I do know that nests and eggs for osprey and eagles are protected year round. A horn might be a clever idea, I've also been really entertained by the idea of getting a wacky flailing tube man as a deterrent, haha. Thank you again for the info.

 

[McChooky]

This one was rescued by Three Rivers Avian Center (TRAC) on June 7 and released near its original nest in Gauley Bridge recently. They're growing in numbers but they prefer fish so as long as you supervise your chickens you should be okay. I limit how many hrs my chickens are out so predators have to hunt.(edit) Teaching your chickens to go in without a fuss could save their lives