Turkey Vultures?

[Sequin]

We had several, I'd say around 8 or so, turkey vultures circling low( douglas fir tree top height) over head today. Our big roo had all the girls safely tucked away in the chicken house, such a good boy he is. But I thought turkey vultures didn't catch prey like other birds, that they ate stuff like road kill and already dead animals??? Anyone know if I need to be protecting my flock from them, or are they harmless?

 

[Illia]

Far as my experience goes, you're fine - They only eat carrion. We've had some around before and nothing happened.

Curious, you mention Douglas Fir - Do you live in the PNW by any chance?

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Vultures won't hurt your chickens. Don't worry.

 

[bufforphfan]

We have lots of buzzards here in Arizona in the summer time. They circle and ride the air currents looking for road kill or other dead animals. As the sun sets they usually start looking for a place to roost. They are not a danger to your chickens. What you need to watch for are Red Tailed Hawks (Chicken Hawks). They are pretty brazen and persistent in seaching for prey.

 

[Sequin]

Phew, thanks so much for the input!!! I didn't think they were a bird to fret over, but they just seemed so darn large it was hard for my mind to wrap around that they wouldn't want to dine on fresh chicken.

LOL

Illia - I do, in fact, live in the great PNW. I bet the area you live in is Gorgeous!!!! You probably have delicious seafood too, eh? Lucky you!!!

I go to Sequim once in a while for a dog show, and several times a year I am up in the Seattle area for dog shows. Beautiful country up that way. I'm closer to Seattle's sister city though.

Nice to 'meet' you neighbor!!!

 

[elf]

I have lots of buzzards around often because my property has commercial chicken houses on all 4 sides. Phew! But I did get a great deal on the place. They're attracted to the dead. Unfortunately, a few hawks sometimes tag along behind them to clean up the injured. So do take notice of that possibility when you see the buzzards. The last hawk I saw here was run off by a crow. So, before I owned chickens, I disliked crows and jays. Now they are my freinds, since both will deter hawks. Guineas and roosters will take alarm at anything large overhead. Mine worry a lot about airplanes.

 

[Ozark Chicken]

So this isn't a giant wild chicken that was down on our creek???
hee hee hee just funnin, We have them all the time and they have never bothered our free ranging chickens.

 

[ChickensInTheNorthWoods]

I have several that hang out in the back yard and watch the girls. My roosters always round everyone up when the first start circling overhead but calm down when they realize they are no harm to them after they land on the kids swing set in the back yard. Now the Coopers Hawk now thats another story!

 

[jjthink]

Chickens are amazing, smarter than most folks give them credit for (except BYCers of course

).
They usually know a great big turkey vulture is no threat and pretty much ignore them but if a much smaller Cooper's or other hawk comes cruising by they are on red alert. JJ