Saw a barn owl checking out our little flock

[gottsegnet]

See, that's what I thought. A lot of farmers encourage barn owls to nest in their barns for rodent control and I wouldn't think they'd do that if it took their chickens. But it was pretty intent looking. It was cool to see it up close like that and hear the scream.

 

[sourland]

I was the weird kid who climbed into old barns and silos collecting barn owl castings and then tearing them apart. They were always filled with the skulls of mice and occasionally rats. They are definitely "good guys" to have around. I have no doubt that they might kill a chick given the opportunity, but they are primarily killers of small mammals. Great horned owls on the other hand will even tackle prey as large as geese.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I have 2.5 acres patrolled by 4 barn owls. They eat the mice, never the chickens. You may hear them screech or make high pitched clicking sounds. That is thier way to communicate, not screams of frustration. Owls like to hang out and watch for mice and things to eat. They have excellent night vision. I have never had a barn owl hurt my chickens. Probably because they swallow thier food whole, and barn owls are not a huge bird. Your chickens probably weigh 2 or 3 times what the owl does.