4d ā¢ General discussion
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Hawk vs. Owl Predation: Identifying Daytime vs. Nocturnal Threats
Lost a bird to an aerial predator? i just had a televet appointment helping an owner patch up their chicken after a hawk attack, so I wanted to share this comparison info with youš
HAWKS (Daytime Hunters):
COMMON SPECIES:
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Red-tailed hawk
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Cooperās hawk (specialist on birds!)
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Sharp-shinned hawk
HUNTING BEHAVIOR:
āļøAttack during daylight hours
āļøOften strike from perches or dive from above
āļøMay pursue chickens into cover
āļøCooperās hawks are persistent hunters!
EVIDENCE LEFT BEHIND:
šŖ¶Neat piles of plucked feathers
šŖ¶ Breast meat eaten, carcass left
šŖ¶Attack site often in open areas
šŖ¶May return to same location
TARGET PREFERENCES:
š„Prefer smaller/bantam birds
š„Young, weak, or separated individuals
š„Birds in open areas without cover
OWLS (Nocturnal Hunters):
COMMON SPECIES:
š¦Great horned owl (most dangerous to poultry!)
š¦Barred owl
HUNTING BEHAVIOR:
šHunt at night, dusk, and dawn
šSilent flightāchickens donāt hear approach
šExtremely powerful talons
šGreat horned owls can take ADULT chickens!
EVIDENCE LEFT BEHIND:
š¦Attack near roost or coop entrance
š¦Head often removed or eaten
š¦May decapitate through wire!
š¦Talon puncture wounds
š¦Carcass may be carried away
TARGET PREFERENCES:
šBirds roosting outside
šAccessible through gaps
šCan reach through chicken wire!
Prevention Strategies:
FOR HAWKS:
ā Overhead netting or covered runs
ā Provide shelter/hiding spots in range
ā Reflective tape, CDs (temporary effectiveness)
ā Rooster (alerts flock to danger)
FOR OWLS:
ā Secure coop BEFORE dusk
ā Hardware cloth, NOT chicken wire!
ā No gapsāowls reach through openings
ā Covered roost areas
FOR BOTH:
ā Never leave chickens out after dark
ā Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth
ā Provide dense shrub cover in range
Legal Note:
Hawks and owls are federally protected! Lethal control is illegal. Focus on prevention only.
Your turn:
āHave you lost birds to aerial predators? Hawk or owl? š¦
āWhatās your most effective overhead protection method? š”ļø
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2 comments
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Hawk vs. Owl Predation: Identifying Daytime vs. Nocturnal Threats
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