Owl hanging around my coop

[OrganicFarmWife]

I will definitely be running from a pony sized owl. Probably don't have much of a chance.

 

[GodofPecking]

That's what I mean, some owls may be a threat but many are just going to help and look totally cool as they hand out and strut. We'll be able to work it out if it's possible to get a picture, or because it is hard to get a picture, a description of the owl.

I would be worried about a pony sized owl, I know what kind of damage pony sized seagulls do to just-cleaned windscreens, so it's no laughing matter.

 

[AuntNomi]

Ok I looked up some owls here on the web and close as I can see the owl that was here in my yard looked like a barred owl in the face and head. It was a large one in my opinion, bigger then my chickens are. And had a big head and face.
I do not want an owl here period if there is ANY chance at all that it will harm my flock. And it looks like some feel its cool and most feel it could be a danger which is what I am afraid of. I just wish I knew.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Really, your options are limited. I would continue as planned. A covered run will keep them plenty safe. But until you actually have a hen attacked, there is little way to know if in danger. Free ranging is dangerous, I understand those dangers, but consider the risk worth it, if you do not, runs are a much smarter answer. If you have space you might look into getting a tractor.

 

[Sjisty]

We have barred owls that nest and raise babies every year in one of our trees. They have never bothered our chickens and are always a pleasure to watch. Their owlets have bathed in our bird baths.

 

[GodofPecking]

Ok I looked up some owls here on the web and close as I can see the owl that was here in my yard looked like a barred owl in the face and head. It was a large one in my opinion, bigger then my chickens are. And had a big head and face.
I do not want an owl here period if there is ANY chance at all that it will harm my flock. And it looks like some feel its cool and most feel it could be a danger which is what I am afraid of. I just wish I knew.

I'm sorry and I hope you have a sense of humor about my WARPED mind and sense of humor, because I was just thinking of you SHOOTING the big owl which is bigger than your chicken and thinking "I hope when AuntNomi shoots the owl out of the sky, that it's big dead falling carcass doesn't fall on a chicken and kill the chicken." I'm terrible, but it was a funny silly thought that I had to share. So careful if you are going to start blasting things.

On a serious note, I'd look at what it is hunting, or likely to be hunting, do you have mice ? It's probably after the mice. Either way, chickens have eyes and sound the alarm when they see a problem. They are too hard for an owl to take on compared to some yummy mice which are easy to catch.

Barred Owls eat a large variety of prey, including: mice, voles, shrews, moles, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, opossums, bats, birds (including smaller owls), frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, crayfish, insects, slugs, and fish ALso Elephants Dolphins and DONKEYS!!!! Ok maybe not those last three, but the rest come from http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/barred_owl.htm

It looks like you can scare away these owls with territorial calls of another predator owl.


Also, chickens are very very often likely to fall victim to predators known as humans, but please don't shoot all your neighbors ! they are heavy and may fall on your chooks !!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I will definitely be running from a pony sized owl. Probably don't have much of a chance.

Isn't a 250 KG owl more on the order of a small horse instead of a pony? I would also hate to run up against one of those mice these owls are catching.

 

[AuntNomi]

I'm sorry and I hope you have a sense of humor about my WARPED mind and sense of humor, because I was just thinking of you SHOOTING the big owl which is bigger than your chicken and thinking "I hope when AuntNomi shoots the owl out of the sky, that it's big dead falling carcass doesn't fall on a chicken and kill the chicken." I'm terrible, but it was a funny silly thought that I had to share. So careful if you are going to start blasting things.

On a serious note, I'd look at what it is hunting, or likely to be hunting, do you have mice ? It's probably after the mice. Either way, chickens have eyes and sound the alarm when they see a problem. They are too hard for an owl to take on compared to some yummy mice which are easy to catch.

Barred Owls eat a large variety of prey, including: mice, voles, shrews, moles, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, opossums, bats, birds (including smaller owls), frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, crayfish, insects, slugs, and fish ALso Elephants Dolphins and DONKEYS!!!! Ok maybe not those last three, but the rest come from http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/barred_owl.htm

It looks like you can scare away these owls with territorial calls of another predator owl.


Also, chickens are very very often likely to fall victim to predators known as humans, but please don't shoot all your neighbors ! they are heavy and may fall on your chooks !!

Wow you are crazy! But as a side note, I never said I was going to shoot anything or mentioned a gun. I was looking for helpful info so thanks for the help, and also everyone else's help. it's too high in the tree for me to actually do anything other then try protecting my chickens by securing them. I don't want to hurt anything. I haven't seen rats or mice or evidence there of. However I do live in the woods, and have lots of chickens so I am sure they are there. My husband does what he can to keep them away, so I assume that's why I have not seen them. Don't worry we will not be killing the owl, nor will I build it a nesting box. I hope and pray it is after the mice as you say. Thanks for your help. I do feel a lot better knowing they have other items on their diet other then my chickens. Thanks

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm sorry and I hope you have a sense of humor about my WARPED mind and sense of humor, because I was just thinking of you SHOOTING the big owl which is bigger than your chicken and thinking "I hope when AuntNomi shoots the owl out of the sky, that it's big dead falling carcass doesn't fall on a chicken and kill the chicken." I'm terrible, but it was a funny silly thought that I had to share. So careful if you are going to start blasting things.

On a serious note, I'd look at what it is hunting, or likely to be hunting, do you have mice ? It's probably after the mice. Either way, chickens have eyes and sound the alarm when they see a problem. They are too hard for an owl to take on compared to some yummy mice which are easy to catch.

Barred Owls eat a large variety of prey, including: mice, voles, shrews, moles, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, opossums, bats, birds (including smaller owls), frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, crayfish, insects, slugs, and fish ALso Elephants Dolphins and DONKEYS!!!! Ok maybe not those last three, but the rest come from http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/barred_owl.htm

Take heart, all is not lost. If you live in the correct... or maybe it is the incorrect Zip code the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will gladly shoot barred owls for you. They will even do it for free.

It now seems that the endangered spotted owl is nothing so much as a color phase of the barred owl, ie. the same species. Once a spotted owl goes barred owl-ing it seems that spotted owls never go back to their own kind. This has resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of spotted owls. Of course it is too late now to make all the lumber jack jobs come back so these hard working Americans are SOL. But it mostly goes back to the mantra of the Tree Hugging movement, "In an pinch any lie will suffice!"

So your very own Uncle Sweetness (Uncle Sam) or Uncle Elmer Fudd is out there shooting barred owls maybe even as you read these words.

 

[blucoondawg]

Make no mistake your owl is likely hunting your chickens waiting for the opportunity to strike, yes owls eat many other wild things but a chicken is a large easy meal for a owl or hawk, they've been killing chickens since people started keeping them, don't believe for a second that owl is hunting mice when you have chickens running around, chase your chickens in and keep them covered until the owl moves on, if he finds a meal he will stay until he can't get any more to eat.