Fake owls might work if you need to keep birds or animals away from somewhere for just a day or two. Cats are natural born predators. Be sure that the trees or other perches in your area are on your property, and not a neighbor’s, before having them removed. Roosters are not allowed in some urban areas; check with your city or county animal control office about local regulations regarding roosters. Nylon netting (poultry wire can also be used) is both inexpensive and effective; its presence will prevent owls from making any diving attempts. Owls are known for their intelligence and will get used to these static statues unless you move them around on the regular. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 38,424 times. If a rooster notices an owl or other prey, he’ll emit a sharp and shrill warning whistle to tell the chickens to take cover until danger has passed. By putting up a physical barrier between an owl and its prey, the owl will lose interest and leave to find food elsewhere. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Cats don't especially enjoy the smell of lavender, peppermint or lemon. Rooster at the Ready. Our tips could save your cat's life. Great horned owls and barn owls are most likely to hunt at night in a quiet, open field area where they can see from atop a high perch. Great horned owls are the only type of owl that may attack people who wander too close to their nests. Cats are also likely to see your rabbit as food. Make sure you install any lights outside your coop or structure, since indoor brightness could disrupt your chickens’ sleep patterns. If you don't want to disrupt your land, then try to confuse or frighten the owls by installing night lights with strobes near your home or livestock area. Another way to work with camouflage is to create plenty of options for easy hiding. Get Under Cover. If there isn’t anything in your yard to attract birds they will be less likely to … Other Benefits to Protecting Pets . It's in the Water Certain scented oils can keep cats away from your domicile. When you notice a curious cat coming into your yard, arm yourself with a water-filled spray bottle and surprise him with a squirt of water. With an increasing number of house cats hunting outside, it becomes more and more difficult to keep birds nesting in your garden safe. It is no secret to birders that cats killing birds is one of the greatest bird conservation threats, and feral cats and strays kill thousands of birds every year. Founded in 1991, SES has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded "Best of the Best 2017," “Top Rated Professional,” and “Elite Service Award" by HomeAdvisor. Should you break this law, you may be handed jail time and/or a hefty fine, so we’ve compiled some less lethal owl deterrent suggestions. Try to bring your animals into their wooden structure each night to prevent them from even being seen by predatory birds. Since owls are territorial, the presence of a decoy will deter other owls from trying to claim the area. % of people told us that this article helped them. Many of us use garden fleece to protect crops from frosts. Nests of all kinds can be vulnerable to attacks from predators, such as Blue Jays, crows, grackles, and many other species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Install the light near the area you want the owl to avoid, such as a chicken coop or backyard, according to the product instructions. Use noises such as a cat, dog, snake, or an owl. Fortunately, you can keep owls away with certain frightening techniques or by changing the habitat to make hunting more difficult for them. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If you have an outdoor cat (even if it’s confined to your yard), put Birdsbesafe® cat collars on them. Think of the relief you’d feel if you could guarantee that your cats, dogs, and chickens were safe from owls. Spray the Cats with a Hose. Sometimes permits will be required, depending on the circumstances. While not the most always the most imminent threat to chickens and household pets, owls are best kept away. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Roosters are keen assessors of the true level of danger. The best action you can take is to remove any possible landing surfaces where owls could land to watch their prey and prepare to strike. © 2020 Nite Guard, LLC. Cats, Predators, and Protection: How to Guard Against Coyotes and Birds of Prey. Check with local government authorities about pyrotechnic and gun use regulations in your area before using these devices to frighten an owl. It is illegal to kill any type of owl in the U.S. Do not attempt to trap an owl without professional animal control or wildlife authority guidance. This includes electronic devices like a motion-activated sprinkler, predator decoys, and aluminum foil tapes. White Leghorn chickens, for example, tend to stand out in any environment and make clearer targets for predatory birds like owls. A Brown Leghorn chicken, on the other hand, may be less of a beacon for hungry birds. Ideas to keep cats away from your veg garden New Zealanders love cats, but what our beloved pets leave behind in the vegetable patch can be dangerous to our health. Fortunately, birders have many easy, effective techniques to discourage feral, stray, and lost cats from invading the property they've made friendly for birds. Feral cats not only kill birds and oth… Cats like to stalk their prey by crouching down low and slowly creeping through cover to … If you’re wondering how to scare an owl away, the presence of a loyal rooster with the readiness to crow will do the trick. What kinds of devices can you use to keep owls away? (You may need several roosters if your chickens number more than 15.) Scented oils and herbs: If you don't feel like planting certain flowers, you can purchase dried lavender and rue to spread around your yard.You can also spread oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, and lavender around your garden. They will be able to use professional methods to trap and relocate the owl and its nest. How to Keep Hawks Away from My Small Dog or Cat. By time spring is sprung, your cat could be a full-on convert to indoor living! If an owl comes circling and your chickens have taken cover, the owl will often fly away without investigating further. Get rid of any trees, poles, or other observatories. This article was co-authored by Scott McCombe. Many cat experts agree that a gradual approach to indoor life is best. When choosing your chickens, look for the breeds that will naturally blend in with your environment. Stay away from owl nests, and contact local animal control or wildlife authorities if you discover a nest on your property. Also, clear out any areas the prey animals might find attractive, like windfalls, woodpiles, overgrowth, groundcover, standing water, and storage or clutter. Step 4 Coat bird landing surfaces, such as patio furniture, railings or nearby tree branches, with a layer of bird repellent spray. Here are 8 helpful tips to keep cats away from your garden or property: Avoid leaving garbage bags with open access and keep them in a closed container. Sharp mulches and plants with strong aromas can also keep cats from prowling nearby. If they see it, they may get nervous, and that instability could make your rooster aggressive. But most likely, the real danger is outdoors. If you see an owl lurking around your property, be as loud as you can to chase it off. Avoid going near a great horned owl nest, or take precautions like wearing a helmet or using an umbrella if you must walk near one. The CatBib was invented by a bird-feeding, cat-loving gardener in Springfield, Oregon, after collars with bells and other deterrents didn’t work. Nite Guard Solar lights and Nite Guard Repellent Tape will keep your property protected from hungry and determined owls 24/7. Blood meal fertilizer: Cats dislike the smell of dried blood that is found in this fertilizer.It can keep cats away and make the plants in your garden more green and lush. Another trick using water is to fill bottles of water halfway up. Yell or clap your hands near the owl if you see it. If they are on a neighbor’s property, discuss your concerns regarding owls in the area and find out if removing perching locations is an option. https://wdfw.wa.gov/living/owls.html#conflicts, https://www.crittercontrol.com/services/owl, https://sciencing.com/sounds-frighten-birds-7807173.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The only strategy that can be legally implemented is harassment using noise, lights, effigies, and pyrotechnics. Find bird-deterrent lights online or at a home-improvement store in your area. You may need to clear prey animals out of the area. How to Keep Cats Away from Rabbits. Do not use toxins to get rid of owls, or shoot them. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If your cat currently spends most of his or her time outdoors, bring it in for increasingly longer spells. The kennel will allow your cat access to its food while keeping birds away from the dishes. Because the spikes don’t harm birds, and simply prevent them from gathering in a favorite location, they are a favorite legal means of getting wild birds to move to a different location. Modify Their Habitats. One of cats' natural enemies is water.These animals hate water, so if you want to keep cats away from your garden, a good option is to have a hose or to install an automatic sprinkler in your garden.Water won't harm cats but will scare them off. Devices that startle or frighten are always a good option. It’s easy to hang, and you’ll be able to find at most hardware and garden supply stores. If you are uncomfortable using commercial scent repellents you can try to use natural or homemade repellents. Tips on how to keep wildlife away… When deciding on the best owl protection for chickens and pets you’ll need to know about local laws and develop owl identification skills. One way to keep your chickens and pets safe is to move them inside at night while owls are actively hunting. Make sure your chickens get into the coop by dusk and securely close it all night until the daylight has fully onset again. Give us a call at 1-800-328-6647 or send us a message for advice or installation assistance. Keep chickens enclosed at night so they cannot see the light; having lights on at night can disrupt their sleep cycles. Protect crops with garden fleece. There are four effective methods to keep birds away from your property: using deterrents, spraying chemical repellents, creating physical barriers, and trapping. One way to keep your chickens and pets safe is to move them inside at night while owls are actively hunting. To learn how to use noise to keep owls away, keep reading! Since owls are nocturnal predators, lights and bright flashes at night will deter them from your yard/coop. Wrap the baffle around the trunk 4 to 5 feet from the ground so the cat can't climb or jump past it, and secure the baffle in place with sturdy wire. Keep Cats Indoors It bears repeating that the only way to keep birds and other wildlife safe from domesticated cats is to keep cats indoors. While pretty rare, larger hawks have been known to attack toy breeds, cats, and other small pets. If all else fails and you don’t have the patience to perform some diversion … By playing predator noises, you can scare rats away! Place the spikes on any areas where owls could potentially land. In addition to keeping yard clean, you can use a small ultrasonic device that keeps rodents away. PHOTO GALLERY: Owls found in Las Vegas area. Also, think about adding a rooster to your flock if you live in an area that allows them. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. A rooster is also fiercely protective and will fight any owl who gets within range. Try to use various noise methods for the best results. Bushes, brush, deck and overhang access where your chickens can take cover is essential. Put roosting spikes wherever you see owls trying to perch. Try applying some of the following natural repellents around your house to keep cats away from your property. If the nest is located in a natural position, such as in a tree, there is usually very little that can be done to protect the nest. Use the wooden clapper manually to make a loud banging noise if you see an owl in your yard. Also make sure you don’t leave your decoy(s) in the same place for long. If you can catch a cat in the act, an effective natural cat repellent is the … The only type of owl known to attack people is the great horned owl, and it only does this if its nest and young are threatened. Birds of prey are federally protected in the US, and they therefore cannot be touched or harmed without serious fines and legal repercussions. Startling the owls may be the only legal recourse for removing them. Owls can be a concern for homeowners with pets or small livestock such as chickens or rabbits, because occasionally they hunt small animals at night. Even a short fence can thwart a predator's attack. You can also get rid of owls by shocking them, literally. Owls, like any predatory birds, also often roost in high trees or on building gutters, so any kind of perch-like structure or pole can be dangerous. Add spikes. Safely Deter Owls Use Nite Guard Solar owl deterrent lights to protect your property from unwanted nocturnal visits. … Out of all the noises, I have found the loud bark of a dog to be the most effective at scaring rats away. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg\/aid9965256-v4-728px-Keep-Owls-Away-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"