There were literally 15-20 Turkey Vultures circling our chicken pen...

[mamabahre]

ok, so first thank you all for the replies...Upon some googling etc I can positively say they were turkey vultures NOT black vultures...

I am thinking maybe they were looking for sime handouts or scraps or something because we were feeding them... maybe.. I just found it shocking to see them all flying in so low and hover over us and then go hang out in a nearby tree for awhile. I have only ever seen one or at most 2 flying over the yard and not sticking around..It scared the poop out of my girls. Queen chickie was clucking in such a panicked way. I hadn't heard her make those sounds before...

If I just shot a pellet gun toward them it might scare them away. It seems there are differing opinions on whether they would actually attack the chickens but I'd prefer not to find out the hard way

 

[schellie69]

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This happened at my house on Saturday night also, Never saw so many of them at once it was strange. I see one or two during the day but this was at least 20 birds.

 

[fishin-nole]

You don't want to be shooting at them.

 

[mamabahre]

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Because? I would probably just dry fire hoping to scare them off. I wouldn't actually shoot one. We don't have a gun anyway, we would have to borrow one from the neighbor whose kids is constantly in the back yard shooting BBs into targets...

 

[desertdarlene]

Turkey vultures are very social, so that's probably why they're gathering there. But, I would be careful with sick babies and adults.

There's an old, blind muscovy at the local lake that takes a nap every afternoon across the lake. I remember one or two turkey vultures hanging around him while he was napping, watching. They kinda jumped over like they were going to pick on him when the duck woke up and began hissing. That's all it took for the vultures to leave him alone. He didn't even have to get up or anything. Just one sign that he was alive and able to get away or fight was enough to convince them that he's not an easy target.

 

[fishin-nole]

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Because? I would probably just dry fire hoping to scare them off. I wouldn't actually shoot one. We don't have a gun anyway, we would have to borrow one from the neighbor whose kids is constantly in the back yard shooting BBs into targets...

It's against the law.

 

[mamabahre]

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Because? I would probably just dry fire hoping to scare them off. I wouldn't actually shoot one. We don't have a gun anyway, we would have to borrow one from the neighbor whose kids is constantly in the back yard shooting BBs into targets...

It's against the law.

Are they protected? Im not gonna run out shooting them but I am curious if it is a state or federal thing. Also firing an empty weapon to scare them with noise is not shooting at them.

 

[Judy]

Wikipedia (FWIW) says turkey vultures are protected under the federal migratory bird act.

They gather in huge numbers once a year near here in a state park. We see them all the time where I live; I'm always looking to see whether it's hawk, owl or what. Once in a while they check out the chickens from up high, and sometimes the chickens don't even bother to go find some cover.

 

[mamabahre]

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Thank you for the info!
I am not a big fan of shooting wild critters anyway but I don't have an issue scaring them off with noise if I can.

I wonder if it has something to do with breeding or something. This morning I saw one swooping around the yard and another in a tree but the rest were MIA. I'd like them to stay that way, we have tons of hawks in the area Cape Cod is like hawk central and I haven't seen one around the house yet. I'd like to keep it that way, those #&$^ vultures are going to attract too much attention!

 

[deerman]

yes they are protected, but again the turkey Vulture will not harm a live animal, any movement from the animal they will fly away. red heads once nothing to fear...black vulture will attack.

Turkey vulture beaks are able to rip flesh , but they are afraid of anything alive.. also little lazy , if no air flow for flying, they will set around ,even if on the ground. watch them fly, they just glide , not going to be in the air if they have to work at it.