PROBABLE RACCOON PROBLEM; NOPE, GREAT-HORNED OWL

[centrarchid]

Already taken care of. Will be closing up birds earlier and making to lighting is not on breaker that keeps tripping. Dogs run owl off just fine when chickens give alarm calls. Young birds at higher risk are mostly to be culled as eats soon anyway.

 

[MissChick@dee]

So sorry. I hope you get the critter.

 

[centrarchid]

I did not expect actually to catch this guy. Did and upon release I asked son of 7 if he thought owl would be back tonight, he said"yep".

 

[llombardo]

My hot wire went down yesterday. I was in the pouring rain fixing it. I think the wind moved a small area, moved that back and the fence was back on. It was pretty close to a nut and bolt

Never thought wind would be an issue alone. Last week a wood stake fell on the wire and shut it down.

 

[roosterhavoc]

View attachment 1582017 I did not expect actually this guy. Did and upon release I asked son of 7 if he thought owl would be back tonight, he said"yep".

I think that chicken can still be saved. Did you try tuna and eggs?

 

[centrarchid]

Will check on emergency forum.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

My biggest problem has always been with GHOs. It sometimes happened that they killed multiple birds per night. If your chickens are free ranging then GHOs will also be your greatest threat.

 

[Going Quackers]

View attachment 1582017 I did not expect actually to catch this guy. Did and upon release I asked son of 7 if he thought owl would be back tonight, he said"yep".

Impressive! we had an owl recently too, got some of my calls... we fixed that with better wiring...

Your camera pics are great! i really need one of those.

 

[BY Bob]

I was discussing this with my wife last night sayingimagine if he caught that owl in the trap. Pretty incredible. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[centrarchid]

I was discussing this with my wife last night sayingimagine if he caught that owl in the trap. Pretty incredible. Thanks for sharing with us.

It was caught by trap. Trap has been re-deployed and camera will be out shortly.

Relationship we have with the owls here is probably a bit unusual. I have been watching them for several years now. Game cameras help a lot. Owls habituated helps even more.

See links if interested.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/great-horned-owl-fun-in-2015.979818/#post-15251402
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/great-horned-owl-fun-in-2016.1090039/#post-16734824
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/great-horned-owl-fun-in-2017.1180184/#post-18604841
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/great-horned-owl-fun-in-2018.1214692/#post-19374275

I also caught one about 2011 when it was tangled in a roll of electrified poultry netting. major hassle getting that numbnut untangled as it kept trying to both grab and bite me as I worked over 20 minutes to get it out.