Will These Guys Hurt My Babies?

[flgardengirl]

These huge (buzzards?) like to sit in a tall pine and stare down at the chickens and pens. The chickens freak and run for cover or run into thier coops. Some free range and some are locked in covered runs just depending on the day lol. I wanna know if I should worry about these eating my babies? We have eagles that visit from time to time that I know would eat them but if these guys are buzzards, I have heard varying things about whether they will or will not go after a live chicken. Thanks

3 Of Them

Close up

 

[mypicklebird]

They are more scavengers- so would be interested in dead or dying creatures. I think they might go after a chick though, if it got separated from it's broody Ma.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

We have turkey vultures around here. They look a lot like your guys. I am no ornithologist, but I have learned to tell the difference between a soaring vulture and a soaring hawk -- our vultures are all black and the local hawks are brown with a white underside.

The vultures sometimes watch the chickens while trying to locate the smelly old raccoon bodies in the creekbed.

 

[zazouse]

Never ever had them mess with chicks or chickens but when ever i see them hanging around it ain't to long before i find something dead or start smelling it.

I just looked at your photos again those look like juvenils

 

[Lbrad7]

I have never heard of vultures attacking grown birds but like the other post, I wouldn't trust them with young vulnerable birds. I would still shoo them away...lol just for peace of mind.

 

[flgardengirl]

Thank you. I haven't seen them actually do anything threatening but they do like to sit up there and eyeball them once in a while. There are dense woods around her and I wouldn't doubt lots of dead squirrels or whatever in there. They are kinda creepy. Maybe they are waiting for the freeranging roosters to fight each other so they can get the loser lol.

 

[dmiravalle]

Quote:
Probably taking bets!!

 

[Pinky]

We have black vultures that roost in the woods near our house. I have several chickens that roam free and the vulture have never bothered them. I like seeing them around because when they are around, the hawks stay away.

 

[zazouse]

Quote:
Those birds do not go into the woods for food, it has to be in the open or on the edge of the woods or on the roads.

 

[zazouse]

Quote:
They don't bother the hawks around here, many times i see the hawks flying with them.