Sharing with the local wildlife.... (house, coyote, chicken, cost)

[NVplumber]

I awoke the other night to a ruckus at the chicken coop. So, I grabs my flashlite, and took a peek. The front, open topped, part of the coop was holding roosters, culled out from the group, and a female Great Horned owl had the largest of the five pinned down. I was only a few feet away, on the other side of the wire, and she could have cared less.

Instinctively, I yelled, and rattled the coop door open as she just continued to throttle the hapless rooster, with gusto. It was then it occured to me tbat chicken was useless to me anyway. They were all slated for the block, and freezer space is getting lean. So, I backed off and watched the show. The owl made sbort work of it, took one uninterested glance at me, and rose into the night taking the, fairly large, chicken with her. She was a beautiful bird, and an impressive grocery shopper. Saved me having to ax the critter.

It was quite a sight. I guess I was supposed to be mad about it, but this wasn't like coyotes in the calving pasture. It was extra, and a kind of burden, that I could easily spare. Plus, how often do you get to see a bird like that in action that close up. Wish I had had my phone and taped it.

Yea, it's ok to share sometimes. Hell, a critters gotta eat....

[timberline742]

I would love to see that. Must have been quite a show indeed.

[RyanR]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

Yea, it's ok to share sometimes. Hell, a critters gotta eat....

Personally, I don't like sharing animals intended for the freezer. It took one last night. It'll continue to come back until it has collected them all. I'd put them in your freezer or otherwise protect them before you lose them all to the owl. And you can be sure, after the owl ate that bird, had a nice cigar and a little brandy, it told all its friends about your location.

[House4kids]

What a wonderful show you got.

[NVplumber]

Originally Posted by RyanR

Personally, I don't like sharing animals intended for the freezer. It took one last night. It'll continue to come back until it has collected them all. I'd put them in your freezer or otherwise protect them before you lose them all to the owl. And you can be sure, after the owl ate that bird, had a nice cigar and a little brandy, it told all its friends about your location.

Ah, the remaining roosters got the ax the next day. She hasn't been back, but the male took a chiuaua down the road. The gal wasn't to happy bout that. Hell, owls are a fact of life here. The Great Horns grace us with their presence all year long. Since the laying hens are now out in the open top I have put a net over the top, but, they don't stay in the open area at night anyway. They hole up in the closed in shelter where I have heat lamps put in. Tbe only reason those roosters were penned in out front was because of tbeir imminent demise. I could spare one rooster. They are just soup meat anyway.


That owl was so cool it was worth the donation. Lol, just acted like I wasn't even there. I give her kudos for stones. Lmao, throttles this rooster right in front of me, gives me a nod and just wings away. She was quite...regal, and I was suitably impressed with her bearing.

[brushrunner]

Use to be we killed every Owl and Hawk just because of this. I don't share what I have taken the time and money to raise for me and my family. Thought I would be nice take a Black Snake out of my Chicken house and put it 75 yards away in my Garden. Next day had two of them eating all my Baby Ducks. Yes I killed both of them.

I would have taken the Rooster away from it and butchered it.

I've thought of feeding Squirrels and Deer around here, like my wife said I do this then I will have a problem them getting into stuff and destroying it.

brushrunner

[Teddy52]

If I raise any animal, no other animal is going to get it if I am around.

[NVplumber]

Originally Posted by brushrunner

Use to be we killed every Owl and Hawk just because of this. I don't share what I have taken the time and money to raise for me and my family. Thought I would be nice take a Black Snake out of my Chicken house and put it 75 yards away in my Garden. Next day had two of them eating all my Baby Ducks. Yes I killed both of them.

I would have taken the Rooster away from it and butchered it.

I've thought of feeding Squirrels and Deer around here, like my wife said I do this then I will have a problem them getting into stuff and destroying it.

brushrunner

Ehh. Normal reaction would have been to do just that. It's not like I'm setting up a buffet though. This one rooster, which I was actually looking forward to axing, meant nothing to me. Something in my head just said "nehh ..she can have him". Right wrong or indifferent that's how it played out.

It was a one off deal. It was pretty cool from where I was sittinv at the time.

[brushrunner]

Originally Posted by NVplumber

Ehh. Normal reaction would have been to do just that. It's not like I'm setting up a buffet though. This one rooster, which I was actually looking forward to axing, meant nothing to me. Something in my head just said "nehh ..she can have him". Right wrong or indifferent that's how it played out.

It was a one off deal. It was pretty cool from where I was sittinv at the time.

Ok where do you draw the line. I had a friend that fed Bears, I told her she needed to let me shoot one. Oh no they are my Pets. Couple weeks later one got hold of her Dog ripped it open, cost her $600 to have it sewed up. Then she calls wanting me to take care of her problem.

What if it's a Fox eating your Chicken or better yet a Possum killing all of them. Hey Possum just doing what is natural, not as cute.

One of her Pets eating Dog Food



brushrunner

[Lost Roses]

Originally Posted by brushrunner

Use to be we killed every Owl and Hawk just because of this.

brushrunner

Presumably before the '70s when it became illegal to kill hawks and owls.