Are bald eagles a threat?

[Fluffy_Feathers]

There has been at least one, maybe two, bald eagles flying around and I want to know how much of a threat they are to my chickens.

 

[Dancing With Chickens]

There has been at least one, maybe two, bald eagles flying around and I want to know how much of a threat they are to my chickens.

Bald eagles will eat chickens like hawks if they get a chance, so keep an eye out!

 

[hillbilly91]

I agree, given the opportunity the eagle will take your chicken for a easy meal

 

[ChickenLeg]

Heck yeah theyll eat one of your chickens without a care in the world, its fall time predators are in full survival mode

 

[Abriana]

My mom’s friend had a hawk hanging around her chicken pen and she prayed and an eagle swooped down, and grabbed the hawk. She got it on video! But idk if the eagle started eating her chickens. Eagles will eat your birds! Put them under trees, plant trees and bushes in their enclosure, or build shelters with pallets or drag branches into the pen (if it’s not a moveable pen, building shelters is a good option) and lay them on top of each other like underbrush for them to hide in.

 

[DobieLover]

A friend of mine at work has a bald eagle picking off her free range chickens on a near daily basis. She does not have a covered run to enclose them in.

 

[Alexandra33]

Theoretically, yes, eagles can and will prey on your flock. Short and to the point.

However, I live in an area that is frequented by both hawks and eagles on a daily basis. Do you think I've experienced issues with eagles yet? Not a chance! If I had $1 for all the times pairs/lone eagles have flown over the property without so much as looking at our birds, I'd be pretty well-off.

This is not to say it'll never happen, but for now, the predator spotlight is on hawks (Northern Harriers and Red-Tailed, to be specific). I have lost more birds to them than any other poultry-ravaging creature. Let's just say they're HIGHLY blessed to be Federally protected.

~Alex

 

[Fluffy_Feathers]

Yeah we have an enclosed yard with lots of brush, so they have plenty of cover and can't go far, and their run has a roof. Thanks guys

 

[MROO]

There has been at least one, maybe two, bald eagles flying around and I want to know how much of a threat they are to my chickens.

An eagle - any eagle - would LOVE an easy chicken dinner! Think of them as really big hawks, and protect your flock accordingly.

 

[MROO]

And if you have a small dog, watch out for those, too. Many years ago, I almost lost a little Shih Tzu to a bald eagle. Luckily, the eagle was young enough to be inexperienced and I was close enough to scream and run at it. Between us, we scared the "shih-tzu" out of my poor little dog, but at least it kept her from becoming lunch!