PROTECTING POULTRY FROM 

 PREDACIOUS BIRDS 



By W. L. McAtee, principal biologist, in Charge Division of Food Habits 

 Research, Bureau of Biological Survey 



DAMAGE BY BIRDS to farm products is greatest, as a rule, dur- 

 ing- the pioneer phase of agricultural development. In no case 

 is this more obviously true than in losses among poultry. The brood 

 that roams in a small clearing has the maximum number of enemies, 

 and may suffer serious losses. When poultry is negligently allowed 

 to roost in trees, owls are virtually invited to prey upon it. As im- 

 provement in penning and housing is made, losses caused by preda- 

 cious birds and animals decrease until, under the modern methods 

 used in the most highly developed commercial poultry production, 

 such losses practically cease. This proves the value of preventive 

 measures. There is no need to worry about the presence of predatory 

 species when they cannot get at the poultry. Permitting destruction 

 and then tr}dng to kill the predators is "locking the barn after the 

 horse is stolen." 



Preventive measures are desirable because most of the predacious 

 birds are valuable as destroyers of rodents or of insects ; therefore, it 

 is not advisable to kill them whenever opportunity offers. On the 

 contrary, the Bureau of Biological Survey has found that hawks and 

 owls are among " the most valuable birds that wage war against the 

 foes of the agriculturist." x Only three kinds of hawks, the sharp- 

 shinned hawk, the Cooper's hawk, and the goshawk (the latter rare). 

 all of the type commonly known as " blue darters," and only one owl, 

 the great horned owl, are regarded as generally subject to control. 

 Even in their case it is best to kill only the known individual offend- 

 ers, a policy that should never be deviated from in dealing with the 

 other 25 or more species of hawks and 15 or more kinds of owls that 

 inhabit the United States. 



Preventive Measures 



Hens incubating eggs are usually housed, and the first step in 

 protection is thus taken. After the brood is hatched, a hen with 

 young can be kept in a movable pen consisting of a weatherproof 

 and enemy-proof coop with attached wire-enclosed range (fig. 1). 

 The coop should be entirely enclosed, bottom as well as sides and 

 roof, and so constructed that the hen and brood can be shut up 

 safely at night and yet have sufficient ventilation through holes too 



1 See Biological Survey Circular 61, Hawks and Owls from the Standpoint of the Farmer. 

 For sale at 5 cents a copy by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 

 Office, Washington, D.C. 



176558°— 33 



