They really do eat the heads!

[Ole and Lena]

Came home today and found a dead hen in the outside run. The rest were huddled in a corner inside the barn coop and absolutetly freaking out. One more was dead on the floor and then I saw it. Didn't notice at first as it looked kinda like my chickens. A Northern Barred Owl was perched on top of the nest boxes! What a brazen thing to do. It had to kill the first, then hop in through the chicken door as the barn is locked down this time of year!

Was able to throw a gunnysack over it and toss it outside. Hopefully that caused enough distress to keep it away, but the chickens are on supervised only outdoor time until I can get a top on the run. It really did eat just the heads of the 2 birds killed.

 

[sourland]

Owls are persistent and brazen. A GHO once entered my pigeon loft through unsecured bobs ( my stupidity). I removed him and locked the bobs. That night and periodically thereafter he would return and try to get back into the loft. They don't give up - protect your birds.