As a backyard chicken owner, you want to do everything you can to keep your flock safe and healthy. One potential threat that concerns many owners is predators, especially birds of prey like hawks, eagles and vultures. Turkey vultures in particular get a bad rap as chicken killers. But do they really pose a serious danger to your flock? Here’s what you need to know about turkey vultures and chickens.
What Are Turkey Vultures?
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are very common large scavenger birds found throughout most of North America. They have dark brown plumage except for reddish-colored heads that lack feathers. Their wingspans can reach up to 6 feet across.
Turkey vultures have an excellent sense of smell to help them locate carcasses and they often circle in the sky while sniffing for dead animals. They prefer to feed on the remains of dead mammals but also eat dead reptiles, amphibians and occasionally birds.
Turkey Vultures are Primarily Scavengers, Not Hunters
The key fact about turkey vultures is that they are scavengers that prefer to eat animals that are already dead They do not typically hunt down and kill live, healthy prey Their beaks and talons are relatively weak compared to true birds of prey like hawks and eagles. And turkey vultures tend to have slow, soaring flight rather than the speed and agility needed to chase and catch live prey.
So while it’s certainly possible for a turkey vulture to attack and kill a chick or other vulnerable animal, they very rarely do so. Their diet is more than 90% carrion or dead animals they come across. Healthy, grown chickens are simply not what turkey vultures are adapted to hunt and eat.
Turkey Vultures Do Not Recognize Backyard Chickens as Prey
Domestic chickens look and act very differently from the wild animals that turkey vultures are used to scavenging. So even though chickens are birds, turkey vultures likely do not identify them as a potential food source.
Backyard chickens that are let out during the day while the owner is around are also not tempting prey for timid turkey vultures. The chickens are active and alert in the presence of humans, not appearing weak, sick or dead like the carcasses turkey vultures seek out.
Rare and Opportunistic Attacks Only
There are rare reports of turkey vultures attacking chickens. This is most likely to happen if a chicken is sick, injured, very young or appears vulnerable and the vulture is extremely hungry.
Such opportunistic attacks do occasionally happen but are unlikely with healthy free range chickens that have an attentive owner around. Turkey vultures prefer an easy meal and typically leave active chickens alone.
Other Predators Are a Greater Threat
While turkey vultures are often blamed for missing or dead chickens, they are far less likely to be the culprit compared to predators like hawks, raccoons and feral dogs. These predators actively hunt and kill live chickens, especially weaker birds and chicks.
So if you notice dead chickens missing or see attacks the predator is almost certainly a hawk or other hungry predator that considers chickens normal prey. Don’t immediately assume turkey vultures are to blame.
Tips for Protecting Your Flock from All Predators
Here are some tips to keep your flock safe from any potential predators, including opportunistic turkey vultures:
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Keep chickens in a secure coop or run when not supervised. Predators are less likely to attack when humans are present.
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Use well-built coops and covered runs with proper ventilation, perches and nesting areas.
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Check for gaps or weaknesses in coops that could allow entry by predators.
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Install electric poultry net fencing around runs and coops.
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Keep vegetation trimmed around coops so there is no place for predators to hide.
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Use guard animals like dogs, donkeys or llamas that will alert you to predators.
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Keep feed in sealed containers and promptly clean up any waste or leftovers.
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House smaller and weaker chickens separately if needed.
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Keep free range areas visible with limited vegetation and perches.
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Consider motion-activated lights, sounds or sprinklers to scare off night predators.
Turkey Vultures Help Control Pests and Disease
Instead of seeing turkey vultures as threats, it’s better to appreciate the benefits they provide by cleaning up carcasses. Rotting animal remains can attract even more dangerous scavengers like rats. Turkey vultures help prevent the spread of harmful diseases by safely disposing of dead animals.
So while it’s smart to take precautions against predators, in most cases you can rest easy knowing turkey vultures help keep your property clean and disease-free. As scavengers focused on dead creatures, they are highly unlikely to bother your healthy, active backyard chickens.
Vigilance and a rooster or two protect against flying chicken predators such as turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks and bald eagles.
From my front yard, I can watch red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures circling over our home daily. A rafter of wild turkeys lives in the woods behind our house, and many crows share our neighborhood. Occasionally, I’ll even spot a bald eagle perched in a tree along the Missouri River. It’s a great place to be a birder. Unless, of course, you keep chickens.
When I was a youngster, my mother warned me to watch out for chicken hawks. Although, to my knowledge, the hawks that soared over our farm never once attacked any of the cranky old biddies or the crusty rooster that inhabited the farmyard. They’d probably seen the rooster take after my little brother, and decided the fight wouldn’t be worth the meal.
In later years, I learned that “chicken hawk” is a colloquialism that describes several species of hawks, including the red-tailed hawk, Cooper’s hawk, and the sharp-shinned hawk.
turkey vulture eats chicken
Are turkey vultures dangerous?
May attack vulnerable newborn calves, lambs, and other livestock. For most healthy adult animals, turkey vultures pose little predatory threat. Their tendency to scavenge rather than hunt their own food means most pets and livestock are safe from turkey vulture attacks. However, there are some circumstances where extra precautions may be needed:
Do turkey vultures scavenge?
Overall, turkey vultures are highly specialized for scavenging and do not have the necessary adaptations for more active predation on live animals. They may opportunistically feed on smaller living animals that are already weak, vulnerable or dying, but they do not hunt mobile, healthy animals.
Do turkey vultures eat birds?
In some cases, turkey vultures have been seen killing and eating living small mammals and birds. Some documented examples include rats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, bats, and small passerines. While they may not actively hunt healthy adults, turkey vultures can sometimes overpower weaker juveniles and nestlings.
Do vultures attack small pets?
Small pets like cats, small dogs, rabbits, etc. could potentially be attacked if left unattended outside when vultures are present. Owners of small pets may want to supervise them and keep smaller animals indoors or in protected enclosures. Overall, the risks are relatively low in most cases.