Turkey vultures are scavenger birds that feed on dead animals. While they play an important role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carcasses, turkey vultures can be a nuisance and a threat to backyard chicken flocks. Vultures are attracted to easy meals and can attack vulnerable chickens. Their powerful beaks can kill chickens, and they may also spread diseases. Keeping vultures away from chickens requires proactive management through exclusion, repellents, and reducing attractants. With persistent effort, it is possible to deter turkey vultures and keep chickens safe.
Why Are Turkey Vultures Attracted to Chickens?
Turkey vultures are naturally attracted to chickens for several reasons:
- Easy prey – Chickens are relatively small birds that vultures can more easily prey upon compared to larger livestock.
- Vulnerability – Chickens kept in backyards are more exposed and vulnerable to predator attacks compared to larger commercial flocks.
- Sick chickens – Vultures have a strong sense of smell and can detect sickness/injury in chickens from afar.
- Carrion – Vultures eat carrion and are attracted to dead chicken carcasses to feed.
- Unprotected feed – Accessible chicken feed is an attractant to many predators including vultures.
- Disturbance cues – Flapping tarps, movable coops, and other cues of activity attract vulture attention.
The key is that chickens seem like easy, abundant prey to turkey vultures, especially when they are free-ranging or in poorly protected coops and runs. Predators like vultures will always seek vulnerable prey to make efficient use of their energy.
How to Keep Turkey Vultures Away from Chickens
Here are the main methods to deter turkey vultures and prevent them from harming backyard chickens:
Exclude vultures with netting
The most effective physical barrier against vultures is netting over the chicken run and coop. Suspending netting above the enclosed space prevents vultures from swooping down on the chickens:
- Use heavy duty netting with a 1-2 inch mesh size.
- Netting should be installed at least 6-8 feet above the ground.
- Pitch the netting canopy at a steep angle so vultures cannot land on it.
Properly installed netting creates a protective ceiling over the chickens that vultures cannot penetrate. It works best for stationary coops and runs. Make sure there are no gaps in the netting that birds could squeeze through.
Repel vultures with scare devices
Visual and sound repellents can be used to scare away vultures from the chicken area:
- Mylar tape – Reflective surfaces and iridescent eyes deter birds.
- Scarecrow – Creates movement and human presence that disturbs birds.
- Noisemakers – Motion activated sounds, clackers, and bangers frighten vultures.
- Sprinklers – Intermittent water movement startles birds and prevents roosting.
The key is varying the type, motion, and placement of different repellents. Vultures quickly adapt to stationary scare devices, so the tools should be diverse, moveable, and frequently changed up. Using multiple devices in combination is most effective.
Apply chemical repellents
Non-toxic repellents make chickens unpleasant or uncomfortable for vultures to try and prey upon:
- Capsaicin sprays – Irritates mucous membranes of birds.
- Garlic oil – Strong odor acts as a repellent.
- Eucalyptus oil – Unpleasant scent deters vultures.
- Insect repellent – DEET applied around coop perimeter.
Reapply chemical repellents frequently, such as after heavy rains or every few days. Alternate between different repellent scents for best results. Ensure any repellents are non-toxic for chickens at the used concentrations.
Reduce vulture attractants
Sanitation and access control can make the chicken area less appealing to vultures:
- Clean coop – Remove fallen feed, feathers, eggs regularly.
- Dispose dead chickens – Prevents scavenging of carcasses.
- Secure feed – Prevent access to loose feed spills.
- Limit vegetation – Prune trees/shrubs where vultures perch.
- Protect free-ranging – Supervise or use portable fencing.
Eliminating attractants forces vultures to search for food sources elsewhere. Good sanitation and enclosed housing are key to deterring predators. Free-ranging flexibility can be maintained with mobile fencing options.
Scare or threaten vultures
Active hazing or threatening techniques can be used to drive away vultures in the moment:
- Chase on foot – Run towards vultures flapping arms and yelling.
- Water spray – Strong water jet aimed at vultures.
- Noisemakers – Fire crackers, gun shots, or other loud sounds.
- Dogs – Guard dogs patrol area and chase vultures.
Do not actually harm or kill any vultures which is illegal. The goal is just to create an inhospitable environment so they choose to move elsewhere. Be persistent and vary scarers so vultures don’t become desensitized.
Trapping and removing vultures
As a last resort, it may be necessary to live trap and remove very persistent vultures. Trapping permits are required:
- Cage traps – Use carrion as bait to lure vultures.
- Net traps – Large open nets dropped on roosting vultures.
- Relocate birds – Release trapped vultures >100 miles away.
Removing lead birds may help disband roosting flocks. Trapping is labor intensive and should comply with federal and local laws. Focus trapping on a few problematic vultures.
Preventative Measures
Alongside control methods used as needed, some basic practices help deter vultures long-term:
- Shelter housing – Coops and runs with fully enclosed sides, roof, doors.
- No openings – Seal all entry points into housing greater than 1 inch.
- Nighttime confinement – Lock chickens into predator-proof coop at night.
- Supervise free-ranging – Directly monitor chickens when out of enclosure.
- Remove carcasses – Promptly dispose dead chickens so vultures aren’t attracted.
Well-designed housing and attentive care day and night are key to protect against persistent scavengers like turkey vultures. Free-range time can still be provided safely under supervision.
Turkey Vulture Behavior and Biology
Understanding some background on turkey vulture biology and behavior helps inform control methods:
- Scavengers – Feed exclusively on carrion, do not hunt live prey.
- Nest colonially – Roost in large groups in trees or on structures.
- Soar for hours – Use air currents to effortlessly glide and locate food.
- Rely on smell – Sense dead animals up to a mile away.
- Bald heads – Adaptation for feeding inside carcasses.
- Regurgitate when threatened – Vomit foul smelling semi-digested meat.
- Long-lived – Average lifespan in wild is 10-20 years.
Key behaviors like group roosting, soaring flight, and smell-detection explain why vultures can be so persistent around properties with vulnerable chickens and carrion present.
Legal Status of Turkey Vultures
Turkey vultures are federally protected migratory birds under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes it illegal to harm or kill turkey vultures without permits:
- Cannot trap or kill vultures without permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Non-lethal hazing is allowed to scare away vultures.
- Removal permits are only granted to alleviate health/safety risks or property damage.
- Report Tags – Killing a vulture carries fines up to $15,000 and jail time.
Lethal control should always be a last resort when no other methods have worked. Follow the conditions of any trapping or removal permits closely.
Key Points Summary
To recap, the main methods for deterring turkey vultures are:
- Exclusion netting over chicken runs and coops.
- Visual and sound repellents to scare vultures.
- Apply non-toxic chemical repellents.
- Sanitation and access control.
- Hazing and threats using scarers.
- Trapping as a last resort.
- Prevention via secure housing and supervision.
A combination of exclusion, repellents, and hazing works best to consistently discourage vultures. Always comply with laws and permitting requirements if considering removal. Persistence is key as vultures are dedicated scavengers. With continual management, it is possible to train turkey vultures to avoid targeting your flock as an easy meal option.
Conclusion
Turkey vultures serve an important role in the ecosystem, but they can threaten backyard chickens attracted by easy prey and carrion. Physical exclusion using netting provides the best protection. Repellents, hazing, sanitation and preventative housing also help deter vultures. Trapping problematic birds may be warranted as a last option if permitted. With commitment to active management, turkey vultures can be dissuaded from treating your flock as an open food source. The goal is coexistence – maintaining chicken health and safety while respecting the scavenger niche turkey vultures fill.