Owls - how to keep away?

[Jessi.Smith]

Last night, my dog alerted me that something was up outside. The chickens were making noise and very worked up. So I went and inspected the run, no sign of tampering so I started looking in the trees. There was an owl perched right by the run.
After some research, I know I am not allowed to shoot the owl, so what options are there to keep the owl away? I am not really as concerned for my chickens, their run is secure, but I have 3 dogs under 10 pounds.
We live in a very rural area, with trees all around. Apparently owls are a thing here, I hit one driving a week ago. :/

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We have owls. They haven't bothered my birds or little dogs. I think they are cool. I don't think you can keep them away.

 

[Folly's place]

As long as your birds are in a safe run and coop, it's not a problem. Your little dogs and free ranging chickens are much more at risk from big dogs, coyotes, etc, than owls.
Enjoy having them around, they mostly eat rodents!!!
Mary

 

[backyard pigeons]

The pictured owl is a great horned owl. Great horned owls are known to take anything from mice to rabbits. I dont think the owl will harm your dogs, although there are always cases of otherwise.

 

[centrarchid]

You look good for protecting your chickens. Great-horned Owls will take chickens, especially small ones if given a chance. I think 10-lb dogs are bigger than an owl will try for and certainly larger than an owl can pack off. Other predators will be bigger issue for your little dogs. Owls come in on me periodically and will do so for several nights in a row unless the catch nothing or my dogs almost catch them. They also do not like being shined routinely by flashlite but that is labor intensive and conflicts with good sleeping.

 

[sourland]

Your dogs are probably safe, but cats are readily taken by GHO.

 

[Big Red Roosters]

Owls are one of my biggest predators, but one of my favorite animals. They took out 2 of my 12lb roosters in one evening and more ducks than I have fingers, even when I have plenty of hiding places owls cant get in.
I will go out myself and chase them off, just follow them shining a spotlight on them and they'll leave the property without much trouble. Do it often and they'll move somewhere else. Owls will kill rodents and small coons, opossum, and skunks, so I try not to chase them off too often.. I wont say your dogs are safe, because a hungry owl will attack just about anything when it's desperate. A neighbor lost her huge swan to a massive Great Horned Owl several years ago.

 

[sourland]

In my experience once GHO find a food source they will not leave until the source is depleted. Penning and cooping fowl is a surefire cure for stopping losses. I once left the bobs on a pigeon loft unsecured and a GHO got in and killed several birds. The next night he was back on the landing platform trying to get back in the loft. Brazen indeed.

 

[Jessi.Smith]

The chickens are in the run/coop 24/7 right now, they are all still pretty young. We have a fenced in yard for the dogs, but I am afraid to let them out after dark now, especially after hearing how silently the owl flew off.

Thanks for all the replies!!!

 

[Folly's place]

Small dogs are at risk all the time from many larger predators, and can't be outside unattended anywhere, day or night. Harder to loose than one chicken among many!
Mary