Are bantams safer from Eagles than full size chickens?

[KyCoop]

I personally would make their free range area smaller and easier to protect them. This time of year is bad bad for flying predators.
I would plant lots and lots of shrubs for hiding. I would make some air raid shelters things like child size picnic tables or over turned plastic lawn chairs. Then I would cover the entire area with Masons string.
The only sure way to keep them completely safe is locking them in a covered run.

 

[Amer]

Bantams are much more predator prone than large fowl. I haven't known eagles to take my birds, but hawks have threatened many a bantam, and bantams are the first target of foxes since they are easier to carry off. (In my experience, foxes have no trouble killing a fully grown goose, but they do have trouble taking it far.)

 

[Amer]

That said, are you sure it was eagles and not a fox? Eagles can make birds disappear without a trace in the day, but so can foxes, or they can leave trails of feathers.
Our fox was rather brazen. Sometimes I would see him trying to hunt our flock and I'd chase him away (I don't know how to use a gun.)

 

[McChooky]

Hey folks,

We've got a small (now very small) flock of free range chickens living with us on five acres of mostly extensively wooded land. I thought the amount of tree and shrub cover would be enough protection, but after starting with 10, we're quickly down to five. Lost two to an owl, and the other three, I assume to eagles: One rooster and a blue disappeared without a trace, and one of our pearls got eaten last week... with lots of trace.

Anyway, trying to figure out what to do. Give up? (Bummer because I spent a lot of effort building the coop and my Mom loves the birds.) Just figure we lose 10 chickens a year and keep cycling through them? Try a guard goose next time?

Then I thought, what about bantams? There are a lot of chickens, including two small family commercial endeavors, within about 5-20 seconds flight time for our resident Balds. Are bantams worth an eagle's trouble? Also, since they're (I assume) much faster and more flighty, are they harder, more skittish, less desirable targets?

Thoughts?

Thanks!

My coop and run didn't cost anything to make (pallets and scrap lumber) but I spent hundreds on 1/2" hardware cloth to make it predator proof.I hope you can find a way to upgrade your coop and run so you can keep chickens for years to come!