Cough it Up
Posted by Abby on June 7, 2005
Q: Hi, I am doing a 4-H project on single species management for the Great Horned owl. Any help/tips would be nice. Also, we have chickens. Any suggestions on how to keep the owls away? Thanks.
A: Abby: If I understand your question, the single species you're managing is the chicken and you're raising them in the open where Great Horned Owls live.
Otherwise, if you're raising them in a chicken-house the answer would be to make sure the chickens are kept inside at night.
Great Horned owls exist throughout North America including Mexico and Canada. They prefer to nest in wooded areas, but they hunt in open land. Unfortunately, open land often means farm land.
Any ground dwelling animal is fair-game to the Great Horned Owl, including chickens. The only way I know to keep the owls away from the chickens is to erect a pen that not only includes sides, but a wire mesh cover too.
Good luck to you. Jim Berry
Jim Berry ( June 8, 2005)