Knowing what the turkey vulture eats is one of the most intriguing things about this bird. The fact that they eat dead animals is no secret, but few know when and where they look for carcasses, as well as the kind of carrion they prefer to eat. Read on if learning about the turkey vulture’s diet interests you. Table of Contents
The turkey vulture feeds nearly exclusively on carrion. They feed on carcasses of all types of animals and sizes ranging from washed-up minnows, and mice, to cows, and even the carcasses of washed-up whales. The turkey vulture’s remarkable sense of smell allows it to find even a shrew on the forest floor of a dense-canopied forest. Turkey vultures are opportunists feeding on what’s available to them in the landscape and through the annual cycle.
As a chicken owner, you may be concerned about potential predator threats like hawks, coyotes, or raccoons. But what about turkey vultures? Will these large soaring birds prey on backyard chickens?
While turkey vultures typically focus on eating carrion and do not usually hunt live prey, they have been known to attack chickens in certain situations. Here is a guide on turkey vulture behavior, the risks they pose, and how to protect your flock.
Do Turkey Vultures Normally Attack Healthy Chickens?
Turkey vultures mainly consume carrion and garbage. They are scavengers, not predators designed to hunt and kill live animals. A turkey vulture’s diet consists primarily of dead creatures like roadkill.
Healthy, active adult chickens are generally safe from turkey vultures. These birds do not have strong talons for grasping prey and they lack the speed and agility to catch a quick chicken on the ground.
So in most cases turkey vultures will not go after strong, healthy chickens. But there are some exceptions when chickens may be at risk.
When Might Turkey Vultures Attack Chickens?
While uncommon, there are certain situations where turkey vultures may attack and kill chickens:
-
Vulnerable chickens: Sick, injured, or very young chickens are at the highest risk of being targeted by turkey vultures. They look for weak or compromised prey.
-
Limited food sources During times when carrion and garbage is scarce turkey vultures can become more desperate and willing to pursue live prey including chickens.
-
Large flocks: A group of 20 or more turkey vultures may become bold and aggressively go after chickens, including healthy adults.
-
Poor coverage: Chickens roaming in very open areas without trees or shelters are more vulnerable to aerial attacks.
-
New territories: Unfamiliar vultures exploring a new area may experimentally hunt chickens.
So while healthy free-range chickens are usually safe, it’s important to be vigilant and take precautions to protect your flock from potential vulture attacks.
Signs Turkey Vultures May Be Targeting Your Chickens
Watch for these behaviors and evidence that turkey vultures may be scoping or already hunting your flock:
- Vultures circling lower over the coop and chicken run
- The disappearance of chicks or eggs from the coop
- Chickens showing injuries or missing feathers
- Finding chicken body parts or feathers in a circle on the ground
If you observe any of these signs, take action to get vultures away from your flock and reinforce protection.
How to Protect Chickens from Turkey Vultures
Here are some tips to safeguard your chickens from the threat of turkey vultures:
-
Provide overhead cover – Install shade cloth or netting to block aerial attacks. Vultures don’t like dense cover.
-
Use decoys and deterrents – Fake owls or snakes, scarecrows, and reflective tape may help scare off vultures.
-
Remove attractants – Quickly dispose of any dead animals so they don’t draw in more vultures.
-
Supervise outside time – When vultures are active, directly monitor your free-ranging chickens.
-
Secure the coop – Ensure your coop is fully predator-proof with no gaps in walls or around doors.
-
Keep chickens healthy – Strong, healthy chickens are less tempting prey. Provide a balanced diet, fresh water, and check for illness.
-
Limit open spaces – Pasture chickens near structures, trees, or shrubs to reduce exposure.
Staying vigilant and proactively using deterrents will help keep turkey vultures at a distance. Remove any incentives that attract them to your farm.
Are Turkey Vultures Aggressive Towards Chickens?
Turkey vultures are generally not aggressive birds. They tend to be quite timid and prefer to avoid confrontation. Turkey vultures will usually flee when challenged or frightened.
The biggest risk is not their aggression, but their sheer numbers. Seeing one or two turkey vultures is typical, but a flock of 20 or more can be problematic. They may mob and surround a single chicken together.
It’s wise to be cautious, but there is no need to be fearful seeing just a few turkey vultures periodically passing over your property. Implement preventative measures, and chances are your flock will remain safely out of their reach.
Keeping Your Flock Safe
While turkey vultures do not usually attack live, healthy chickens, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks these large scavenger birds can pose. Monitor for signs of interest in your flock.
With proper coverage, deterrents, and keeping close watch over your chickens, you can likely prevent any vulture attacks. Removing incentives like exposed dead animals is also key.
Take sensible precautions tailored to your specific flock and property. Stay alert to vulture activity in the area. But in most cases, your chickens and turkeys should be able to freely and safely range without worrying about turkey vultures overhead.
What animals make up the diet of the Turkey vultures?
The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) feeds on the carcasses of animals that are found in the area where it forages for food. Essentially, its diet consists of the types and amounts of the animals that live in a certain region, which are expected to die at similar rates.
According to studies that examined the pellets regurgitated by turkey vultures, its diet includes carrion from common animals without discrimination based on size. Turkey vultures eat “prey” that ranges from the size of a mouse to the size of a cow.
| Domestic Animals (weight in pounds) | Wild Animals (weight in pounds) |
| Domestic Cats (8-11 lb) Dog (16-45 lb) Horse (600 lb) Pig (300-700 lb) Cattle (1,600-2,400 lb) Sheep (150-350 lb) Poultry (5.7 lb) | Deer (150 lb) skunk (4.4 lb) Racoon (8-20 lb) Rats (2.6-8.1 lb) Mouse (0.7 lb) Pocket mouse (0.02 lb) Squirrels (1-1.5 lb) Rabbits (2.5 lb) Moles and Shrews (0.01-0.02 lb) Opossums (5-14 lb) Birds (0.03-0.07 lb) Small snake (0.5-1 lb) |
Where do turkey vultures feed?
Turkey vultures feed in any habitat type, always on the ground. They do this because most carcasses are found on the ground. When the carcass is found in shallow water, turkey vultures have been observed wading to reach it.
Unlike hawks and falcons, turkey vultures cannot take even the smallest carcass from the ground to a branch. Their feet are too weak to carry anything.
Turkey vultures can carry small items in their beaks, such as mice or snakes. Though they eat carcasses where they are found, they have been observed dragging rats, squirrels, or similar-sized animals for short distances with their bills.
Turkey vultures have been observed standing on floating carcasses of large animals such as pigs, cows, and alligators.
Do Turkey Vultures Eat Chickens? – Bird Watching Diaries
FAQ
Do turkey vultures bother chickens?
If provided with the opportunity, vultures will kill young or fully-grown ducks and chickens, as well as their eggs. They will often begin feeding on young or sick poultry by pecking the eyes and nose, navel, and vent. They have blinded birds by pecking out their eyes, even when they do not kill the birds they attack.
Will turkey vultures attack live animals?
Turkey Vultures feed almost entirely on carrion and human garbage. Although on rare occasions Turkey Vultures catch live prey, including young or sick birds and mammals, Black Vultures kill live prey more frequently, and accounts of Turkey Vultures eating live prey often involve mistakenly identified Black Vultures.
How do I keep vultures off my chickens?
Harassment is done to make the vultures feel unsafe or uncomfortable in an area, which may cause them to leave and not return. Techniques to disturb vultures include loud noises (i.e., blow horns), spraying with a garden hose, or using pyrotechnics may be required.
How aggressive are turkey vultures?
Behavior: The Turkey Vulture is gentle and non-aggressive. They are usually found in large groups, venturing out independently during the day to forage for food. Adaptations: Their bare head is a great adaptation for an animal that constantly sticks its head inside the bodies of dead animals.