Owl attacks on chickens can be a frightening thing for backyard chicken keepers to witness. Owls are skilled, effective predators that can threaten the safety and lives of chickens in a coop or run. Understanding what an owl attack looks like and being prepared to prevent or stop an attack is an important part of keeping backyard chickens.
In this article, we will cover what you need to know about owl attacks on chickens, including:
- What types of owls prey on chickens
- When owls are most likely to attack chickens
- How owls attack and kill chickens
- Signs of an owl attack
- How to stop an owl attack while it’s happening
- Methods for preventing future owl attacks
Being informed on what owl attacks look like and how to deal with them will help chicken keepers protect their flock.
What Types of Owls Prey on Chickens?
There are over 200 species of owls worldwide, but only a handful of those pose a major threat to chickens in North America. The owls that are most likely to prey on backyard chickens include:
- Great Horned Owl – The great horned owl is the most common owl species known to prey on chickens. It has a varied diet and large talons that can easily kill and carry off chickens.
- Barred Owl – Barred owls are opportunistic predators that will take chickens when available. They have strong hooked talons and beaks suited for tearing prey.
- Eastern Screech Owl – Though small, screech owls are fierce nocturnal hunters that can attack sleeping chickens at night.
- Barn Owl – Barn owls are found worldwide and use their keen sense of hearing to locate chickens in the dark.
- Snowy Owl – In cold northern climates, migrating snowy owls may strike chickens when their typical rodent prey is scarce.
- Northern Hawk Owl – Another cold climate owl that will take chickens when hungry and its small mammal food sources are limited.
Knowing the predatory owls in your region will help you recognize the threat and take protective action against attacks. The great horned owl and barred owl are the most widespread and frequent chicken predators throughout North America.
When Are Chickens Most at Risk of Owl Attacks?
Owls are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) hunters, so chickens are most at risk of an owl attack in the later evening, night, and early morning hours. Chickens roosting outdoors or in unfortified coops during these times face the greatest danger.
Owl attacks also seem to increase during early spring through late fall. Some reasons why include:
- Owl fledglings leave the nest in late spring and must hunt on their own.
- Migrating owl populations pass through certain areas in the fall.
- Prey like rodents or rabbits may be scarce, forcing owls to seek alternate food sources.
Being extra vigilant about protecting roosting chickens during spring, summer, and fall will reduce losses. Also be aware that a routine owl attack in one season may signal repeated attacks – once chickens are identified as an easy meal, owls will keep coming back.
How Do Owls Kill and Eat Chickens?
Owls have a precise and effective attack strategy for killing chickens. Understanding how owls take chickens helps identify if an attack has occurred and how to better protect your flock.
Here are the typical stages of an owl attack on chickens:
- Targeting – Using keen eyesight and hearing, the owl locates and swoops down on a chicken while roosting outdoors or inside an unfortified coop.
- Grip – Strong talons seize and pierce the chicken, with rear talons around the body and front talons on the back or neck to immobilize it.
- Kill – The owl uses its powerful beak to deliver a fatal blow by crushing the skull and puncturing the brain or twisting the neck to break it.
- Carry – Lightweight chickens can be carried whole back to a nest or feeding perch. Larger birds may be plucked and eaten on the spot.
- Consume – Owls swallow chicken meat in chunks after preliminary plucking and tearing. Indigestible bones, feathers and bills are regurgitated as owl pellets.
It’s easy to identify a owl kill – look for talon puncture wounds, bite marks, missing heads, and large deposits of feathers, bones, and owl pellets near roosts. Being aware of their attack strategy helps prevent it.
Signs of an Owl Attack
How do you know if chickens have been attacked by owls versus other predators like coyotes or raccoons? Look for these common signs that point to owl predation:
- Missing chickens – Whole carcasses are rarely found as owls carry chickens away.
- Pile-up of feathers – Look for large piles of feathers near roosts as owls pluck chickens on the spot.
- Scatter of body parts – An owl may dismember and scatter pieces of chickens around the coop or yard.
- Decapitation – Owls may twist and pull the head off chickens they attack.
- Talon wounds – Look for deep puncture wounds and slashes on dead chickens.
- Bite injuries – Check for bite marks and crushed skulls where the owl dispatched the brain.
- Owl pellets – Regurgitated pellets of bone, feathers, and fur are a clear indicator of owl predation.
Finding several of these signs together means an owl attack is likely to blame. Quickly take action to reinforce protection and deter owls from returning.
How To Stop an Owl Attack in Progress
If you hear a commotion and discover an owl attack in progress in the chicken coop:
- Make loud noises like shouting, clapping, or banging pots to startle the owl into leaving.
- Use bright lights like flashlights or spotlights shone right at the owl.
- Carefully enter the coop and try to shoo the owl away without directly touching it.
- Throw safe objects like sticks or tennis balls near the owl (not directly at it) to scare it off.
- Block owl entry holes or openings once it leaves so it can’t return immediately.
Never attempt to handle an owl with your bare hands, as their sharp talons and beaks can cause injuries. Focus on safely scaring it away so it learns not to return.
Preventing Owl Attacks
Once chickens have become a food target, owls will keep coming back unless you take measures to deter and block them. Here are some effective ways to keep owls away and stop attacks:
- Enclose outdoor runs with overhead wire mesh to prevent owls swooping in from above.
- Cover the coop run space at night to block owl access.
- Use predator-proof 1/4 inch hardware cloth to line coop walls and chicken run fencing.
- Place coops closer to your house and as far from trees or owl perches as possible.
- Use well-secured chicken tractors that can be moved onto grass daily.
- Install solar or motion-detection lights around the coop to scare off owls.
- Place owl decoys, rubber snakes, and reflective tape near your coop to deter owls.
- Attach bells or noise-makers to coop doors that alert you when opened.
Fortifying your coops and runs and using owl deterrents will help convince them to hunt elsewhere and leave your flock alone. Stay alert and be prepared to act fast when an attack happens.
Conclusion
Owl attacks can be a scary and detrimental threat for any backyard flock. Being able to identify signs of an owl attack, stop attacks in progress, and take action to prevent future threats will help save chickens. Pay attention to the owls in your area, properly secure housing, use deterrents, and stay vigilant against losses. A prepared and knowledgeable chicken keeper can successfully coexist with predatory owls while keeping their flock safe.