Barn owls are known for their distinct appearance and remarkable hunting abilities. They possess a ghostly white, heart-shaped face and soft, mottled golden-brown and grey plumage. These medium-sized owls glide silently through the night, as their specially adapted feathers minimize sound during flight. Their unique facial structure funnels sound to highly sensitive ears, allowing them to pinpoint prey even in complete darkness. This makes the barn owl an incredibly efficient nocturnal hunter.
What Barn Owls Typically Eat
Barn owls are specialized predators whose diet primarily consists of small mammals. Their main food sources include rodents such as voles, mice, and shrews. Field voles can account for a significant portion of their diet. They also occasionally consume small rats, young rabbits, small birds, amphibians, or insects. Barn owls typically swallow prey whole, later regurgitating indigestible parts like fur and bones as pellets, which scientists analyze to understand their diet.
Barn owls fly low over fields, listening intently for prey. Once detected, they hover briefly before pouncing with outstretched talons. This predatory efficiency makes barn owls valuable in agricultural areas, helping control rodent populations. A single barn owl family can consume thousands of rodents annually, reducing the need for chemical rodenticides and benefiting farmers.
Do Barn Owls Prey on Chickens?
Barn owls rarely prey on adult chickens. Adult chickens are generally too large and heavy for a barn owl to subdue or carry off. Barn owls are medium-sized, and their hunting adaptations are specifically geared towards smaller targets. Chickens are not a natural or preferred food source for these owls.
While highly uncommon, a very hungry or desperate barn owl might attempt to attack very young chicks if they are easily accessible. This is an exceptional circumstance, as the primary focus of a barn owl’s hunting efforts remains on abundant small rodents.
Keeping Your Chickens Safe
Protecting chickens from predators involves general security measures, regardless of the specific predator. Sturdy coops with secure latches prevent entry by various nocturnal animals. Using reinforced wire mesh, such as hardware cloth, on windows and ventilation openings can deter predators. Ensuring chickens are routinely locked inside their coop at dusk is effective.
Considering a predator-proof run attached to the coop can offer additional protection during the day, providing a secure outdoor space. These measures are designed to protect against a wide range of potential threats, recognizing that while barn owls pose minimal risk, other animals might target poultry.