These guys are in my barn...where I'm gonna put my coop :-(

[teapot10]

So, in working in my barn today, cleaning it out and getting ready to build the coop and the outdoor access I heard a horrible hissing noise...this is what I found. I'm pretty sure they are just barn owls but I want to make sure they aren't a threat to my chickens...if they are...they are gonna have to be relocated.

Can anyone tell me anything about barn owls and chickens?

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Aww...after watching Molly the barn owl on ustream raise her chicks....that's just precious. The answer to your question....yes and no...barn owls weigh just about a pound. Very light, hollow bones, and are mostly feathers. An adult barn owl probably wouldn't bother a chicken over 3 pounds. It would be very hard to kill and fly off with. Anything under, and there is a risk. BUT, barn owls feed mostly on small mammals...NOT birds. Though a hungry one with chicks might take a very young chicken. But it's unlikley.

 

[Tala]

Those have got to be the ugliest owls that I've ever seen!

 

[Minniechickmama]

It is cool to have them, but I understand your concern. Barn owls are definitely a cool looking adult, but UG on the babies!

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I have barn owls in my yard. If your chickens are properly secured at night, the owls are not going to harm them. Honestly, I havn't had any problems from my barn owls even when the chickens were not secured, but it is possible for an owl to take a small chick. But listen, those in your picture are babies. What you need to do is leave them be, in a couple of weeks, they will not live in your barn anymore because they will feather out, and move on as new young owls. After they leave, find how they got in, and exclude them if you don't want barn owls. Or, make sure there are no attractive nest sites in your barn. You can't mess with them anyway (No touching, harassing, killing), they are protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Barn owls are excellent rodent control, which is why they are commonly found in barns and other farm builings, they put thier nests near a food source (rats, mice).
See the website: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/mbtandx.html#b

here's a good page on barn owls: http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Tyto&species=alba

 

[sourland]

You are extremely lucky. I'm betting that you do not have a rodent problem. Barn owls (unlike great horned owls) are almost excusively eaters of small rodents. Your chickens are absolutely safe.

 

[teapot10]

Quote:
fancbrd - I would never harm them, and to be honest, their hissing noise scares me to death so no touching or harassing either...lol...I just wanted to know if they were a threat to my chicks...the chicks will be inside for another 4-6 weeks anyway, not in the barn, so I'm hoping the owls will have moved on by then

 

[SurprisingWoman]

You are very lucky!

They will help with rodents but not bother your chickens.

 

[Camelot Farms]

This is a new thing to add to my list of animals that freak me out

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
fancbrd - I would never harm them, and to be honest, their hissing noise scares me to death so no touching or harassing either...lol...I just wanted to know if they were a threat to my chicks...the chicks will be inside for another 4-6 weeks anyway, not in the barn, so I'm hoping the owls will have moved on by then

The owls should be gone by the time your chicks are old enough to be put out. It's amazing how fast owlets grow up! Sourland is right about them eating rodents. By the way, have you seen the mother? They are a relatively small owl, too. My barn owl is smaller than most of my hens! Once, one of the babies fell out of the nest at our place and was running around on the ground, and my brother happend to be outside and saw what looked like a small fuzzy upright gnome-person darting around. It was an owlet, but it scared him to death before he figured out what it was! lol