Owl got in peafowl pen

[KZ]

A Great Horned Owl got into the peafowl pen the night before last and tore the head off of one of my juvenile peahens. Poor thing! It was bad, but we are lucky he only killed the one - now five are left (2 hens and 3 cocks).
The owl came in along the side where the top netting meets the top of the metal fencing. Once in, he was stuck in there all night because he couldn't get out. He was likely in there for more than 7 hours.

I certainly learned a lesson - they go into their shed every night now. I was leaving the door open all night so they could come and go as they pleased. They did not want to go in when it got dark and I figured nothing could get in and hurt them so it wasn't a big deal to just let them stay out if they wanted. They are big birds, but the owl still managed to kill one. The owl was still in the pen when I went in - as I said, he couldn"t get out. The peas had done some damage to his right eye, so I am not sure how he is going to do, either. From what I have read, Great Horned Owls are nesting at this time of year, so he was probably out looking for food for his mate. Such a waste! I learned too late that they all need to go inside whether they want to or not. Of course, since the incident have all gone inside on their own and have been ready for the door to be closed as soon as it gets dark.

 

[TinkleTurkey]

Wow, bummer!

 

[kuntrygirl]

Sorry to hear about the horrible incident. Sorry for your loss.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

How awful! I am so sorry for the loss of your pea.

 

[geebs]

so sorry for your loss.

 

[jeremy]

So... what did you do with the owl?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I was scared to ask that question.

 

[MinxFox]

Yikes! That must have been a scare to see a big owl in the pen! Well, on the bright side it didn't kill all of your birds and that wasn't your only peahen.

 

[texascowboy1979]

WOW... Sorry.

 

[lorad]

We had an Great Horned owl bust through a glass window one night to get to my chickens. I had already lost several birds at night (a few of them my cornish roaster for the freezer!), but couldn't figure out what was killing them. Once this owl was relocated last summer (about 50 miles south), the killings stopped. This summer I had a owl kill two almost full grown turkey poults (then went back to locking them in). Once the poults were in, the owl tried to take on one of the full grown peahens. Thankfully she made noise going down out of the tree so we heard the ruckus. Other than a few missing feathers, and a cut up head, she did well. My husband tried to catch her bare handed in the dark, and she went at him spurs first. Needless to say, the fishing net came out next to grab her a shut her in. The peas are spending the winter shut in (with unfrozen water). I'm looking forward to them free ranging come spring, but I don't want any of them to be owl bait. Got to get throught the snow first- 12-20" tomorrow. I'm ready for spring any time now...
Lora