bald eagle in the burbs!

[soccerguy17]

i cant beleive what just happened i live in a normal neighbor hood and this morning like half an hour ago a had my 9 hens out free ranging in my backyard and as i walked by the window to check on them i see a bald eagle sitting on my newly constructed duck pen! all my birds ducked for cover and know one was hurt but my question is when is it safe to free range them again?

 

[Miltonchix]

What part of Washington do you live in?

If you're on one of the Islands you'll always have the Eagles as neighbors. They prefer fish over just about anything. Other birds second. I lived on Whidbey Is. for over 20 years and loved watching the Eagles. Watch your chickens though. I've seen many an Eagle take gulls and other, mostly aquatic birds.

 

[LynneP]

Eagles love to eat chickens. If available, they like you to throw dead ones to them! Eagles are mainly scavengers but they often wait until a hawk or other predator provides the meal and steal it, so I'd watch to see what else if overflying your run, get the chickens into it and keep them covered.

We're on an eagle migration route, there have been dozens over us daily.

 

[SpottedCrow]

We were on our way to our inlaws 2 weekends ago and driving on the Southeast Expressway..My DS saw a Bald Eagle in Dorchester!!!! I've never seen one in real life but I've heard of them out in the Western Part of the state. So it IS possible.

 

[soccerguy17]

Quote:
i live in puyallup so not really deep in the city but still if i wasnt so worried for my birds i would have been amazed. what was also weird was that right after i scared it off a mob of crows chased it for quite a while.
also i was surprised with my chickens reactions the bantams ran to their coop the standards hid all around the yard except my ditsy buff orpington stood about 10 feet away from it!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I love Bald Eagles. This was my first winter living here and we had them all over the place. Saw them take some ducks at the river one day. They also liked rabbits and fish. Now they are pretty much gone but I see one every once in awhile.

 

[Miltonchix]

Quote:
I even know how to pronounce Puyallup!!