Saw a barn owl checking out our little flock

[gottsegnet]

When I went to lock the chickens in their pen for the night, I found a barn owl peering intently at them and periodically screaming. It retreated to a further perch as I approached and back to the woods when I brought the children out to see.

I know it was a barn owl from the scream. But they don't eat chickens, do they? Was he just curious? Or should I be worried?

They are young, but just started laying this week.

Dana
http://averynearlytea.com

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
YES THEY EAT CHICKENS! owls are predators. be very worried. lock them up tight and check every nook and cranny to make sure that owl cannot get in.

 

[columbiacritter]

Oh you bet your bippy they eat chickens. Your owl was checking out the selection you were offering. They rarely hunt during the day, but early dusk is prime time. My flock is in under protective net by dusk. The one bantam roo who refused to come in or be caught was never seen again.

 

[gottsegnet]

EEE. I knew Great Horned Owls would, but didn't think barn owls were big enough.

They are actually kept in a chicken tractor during the day, but it is designed more to keep them in than predators out. Will an owl go through bird netting (like those you throw over a berry bush, not poultry mesh)?

We have plans to go ahead and wrap it in poultry mesh, anyway, and that may be stepped up a bit, now.

And they're safe, now. All tucked into their cage inside a dog kennel. It's like a chicken fortress.

Now that I said that, something will probably figure out how to get through...

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
don't be speaking that over yourself! geesh! say something like, "Now my chickens should be snuggly safe!"

 

[columbiacritter]

Quote:
Your netting won't stop anything determined enough, but birds of prey dislike anything that tangles in their talons so it would at least slow one down. I have the same netting as a roof over my run and once a red tail hawk wripped right through it. Thankfully the hawk was so rattled by his tumble through the netting he didn't get any chickens.

Anything coming at them from the ground, dog, coon, cat, whatever wouldn't even be slowed dog by the net. Dogs and coons will tear through chicken wire as well. I'd recommend covering your tractor with 1/2hardware cloth.

 

[gottsegnet]

Thanks! We have two dogs, which is why we haven't done much with the tractor. Nothing comes in our yard during the day and the dogs have never messed with the chickens. I don't know that owls care that much about dogs, though. Or maybe that's what all the screaming was about. Do they scream in frustration? It sure doesn't seem like a very good hunting tactic.

 

[nnbreeder]

Here is some good info about Owls. A very good read with a lot of links.

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~au/owl.htm

 

[BAYAREABIRDER]

Barn Owls do NOT eat chickens. It was most likely calling for a mate. Any chicken, juvies included, would make quite a handful for a barn owl. They prefer small rodents, and maybe a songbird if they could get it. Dont worry about them Barnies, worry about GHO' s!!!!

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Friends a Barn Owl Tyto alba has the body the size of a pidgon. I have no doubt that a Great Horrned owl will eat chickens but count your self lucky you have a barn owl. Best it could do is a very young chicken and most likely it wants the mice that are eating your feed. Not only will it defend its territory and possibly keep the much bigger great Horrned owl run off it will reduce your mouse population.
I wish I had a barn owl in my barn!