Vultures stalking my chickens and ducks

[ilovethetabmeister]

I live in an older neighborhood just outside of town where we are allowed to keep fowl. The lots are about 1/3 acre and there are lots of dogs, cats, and even other chickens. I've seen vultures a few blocks over for several weeks, but this morning they were all sitting on my roof and my next door neighbor's roof. I'm not physically able to corral my 7 chickens and 4 ducks (they're actually my husband's pets). As I fed and watered everyone the birds flew a few houses down, but I'm afraid they'll be back. I don't have a flock dog of any sorts, just 5 beagles that have to be kept up since they eat fowl. I kept one beagle out, the leader, since he has been trained not to eat my fowl. But I'm not sure if he would be able to stop a vulture attack. I thought that vultures only ate dead animals but the neighbor behind me just told me that they carry off small things, too.

I have several weapons about me but am really only comfortable with the handguns--plus it's the type of neighborhood where neighbors would call the sheriff if they heard a gunshot--and I know animal control won't do any good.

Is there anything I can do to scare them away or prevent them from coming into my yard besides standing outside all day (not a possibility with three kids to watch)?

Any suggestions appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mattemma]

I have had turkey vultures around too.I have left some dispatched animals out for them.Neat birds.Never bothers the chickens,but they sure freak them out,because I am sure the hens are thinking it is a predator.Did you know the turkey vultures pee on their legs???? Kills the bacteria they get on their legs from a carcass.

 

[rrrmamma]

I agree with zaouse. We have them all around us, especially in deer season. They are natures trashmen. I have never had them bother a live animal.
They sit on my old barn and scout for roadkill or other rotting carcasses. I don't think you have to worry if you are sure they are vultures and not some kind of hawk IMHO

 

[animals1981]

they have feet like a chicken they cant carry off a rabbit lol

 

[Lone Wolf]

Turkey Vultures almost never attack living animals unless there is a shortage of dead animals (I don't think there will be anytime soon). So I think you are good.

 

[1digchicks]

It is a very little known fact that vultures DO IN FACT hunt they just are known as scavengers. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=icwdm_usdanwrc

 

[Rammy]

I just lost my 2 ducks from my yard. One vanished all together, the other was all torn up and half gone. My chickens are fine. I was not sure what did it, but now I think it was a buzzard. I keep seeing one flying over my yard and looking for 30 mins or so. My chickens run and hide. They have not been acting right for 3 days now, I guess because they are being stalked?
If the chance is presented, I will protect my birds. Any tips?
By the way, new member here. I have 2 grown, and 9 young/growing chickens in our yard. Had 2 ducks but...

If you have a covered run, keep them locked up. I lost 14 hens to those little bleepers.

 

[cmom]

They are scavengers. Vultures are only interested in food items that do not move, run away or fight back. So if you have a dead or near dead chicken in the yard or a dead or dying critter in your area, this will attract the vulture. But turkey vultures do not take healthy running chickens the way a hawk or other birds of prey will. They’ll spend hours soaring, relying on their acute sense of smell and eyesight to detect the decomposing carcasses of possums, coons and other roadkill primarily.

 

[cmom]

I suggest put a game camera up and see what other predators may be roaming. You may be surprised. If there have been recent kills, the predator will be back.

 

[zazouse]

They have spotted something dead, you may not be able to smell it but they can and they are waiting till it is safe to go in for dinner.

They are not after your birds of course someone is going to come on here and tell you different but i have delt with these birds all my life and not one time have they gone after my live birds but they do alert me when flying over constantly that i have a dead critter or bird somewhere so i can find it before it gets to smelly and my dogs find it.