Bald eagle nest around

[Bejep714]

We have had our chickens for almost a year now and just today while we were on the highway we spotted a bald eagle nest. Its around 3,400 feet away from our chicken coop and run. A few months ago we had two bald eagles fly low over our yard. Our chickens were out free ranging and the eagles didn't seem interested in them and continued on there way. I didn't know a nest was that close. We have not had any attacks, but our chickens have been away for a long time because of the bad winter and now that they are coming out in there run again, I'm going to worry. We will be getting a rooster this spring,but he will be a young baby so I'm not sure how useful he will be this year. We strung bright thick string over the run last year to keep the birds away, but I'm not sure it will hold a bald eagle off at all. They have some places to hide like under the coop and some pallets, but I'm not sure if they would be safe. I'm worried that they will have a baby by next spring and will be desperate enough to attack. I'll send a picture of the run with string. We did buff up the string a bit since this is an old picture

 

[Cassandra Lana]

You should be fine
1 the netting should detour hawks/eagles
2 last I heard bald eagles eat fish.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Just so you know, if your chickens do get out, even thought they eat fish mostly, they will carry off and eat a chicken, they are big enough. We have red-tailed hawks, but they are too small to carry off the chickens. But the eagles will for sure carry off any chicks left in the open. If they stay under the net, they should be decently safe, though. If you want them to wander out, I suggest you watch them.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

You should be fine
1 the netting should detour hawks/eagles
2 last I heard bald eagles eat fish.

Bald eagles also eat rabbits and road kill and various other things.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

We have had our chickens for almost a year now and just today while we were on the highway we spotted a bald eagle nest. Its around 3,400 feet away from our chicken coop and run. A few months ago we had two bald eagles fly low over our yard. Our chickens were out free ranging and the eagles didn't seem interested in them and continued on there way. I didn't know a nest was that close. We have not had any attacks, but our chickens have been away for a long time because of the bad winter and now that they are coming out in there run again, I'm going to worry. We will be getting a rooster this spring,but he will be a young baby so I'm not sure how useful he will be this year. We strung bright thick string over the run last year to keep the birds away, but I'm not sure it will hold a bald eagle off at all. They have some places to hide like under the coop and some pallets, but I'm not sure if they would be safe. I'm worried that they will have a baby by next spring and will be desperate enough to attack. I'll send a picture of the run with string. We did buff up the string a bit since this is an old picture

They will likely have a baby or babies THIS spring. (In fact they may already HAVE babies since it is now March.)

 

[Blue Raptor]

Bald eagles also eat rabbits and road kill and various other things.

They will carry off anything that is their weight or less. For real life I saw one carrying off a snake to eat!!

 

[CluckerFamily]

There is an eagles nest within a country block of my house, the pair always have three eaglets every year. My flock free ranges all day even when I am not home. I haven’t had an eagle attack yet but I have only had chickens for eight years. There is a farmer down the road that free ranges hundreds of chickens and he loses chickens to hawks and foxes mainly.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

They will carry off anything that is their weight or less. For real life I saw one carrying off a snake to eat!!

Hawks and badgers like snakes too.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Hawks and badgers like snakes too.

So do my chickens... depending on the snake.

 

[Yardmom]

I don't think the Eagles will come close as easily as a hawk. They seem more leery than the hawks, but you never know. Last fall we had one sit in a tree in the yard during a storm right over my silkies. I discovered that a standard pullet was missing. Told people over the winter that an eagle took her. We found her body stuck in the wood pile a few weeks ago. Turns out The Eagles have never really taken one of my birds. We are surrounded by Eagles and hawks but neither have taken any birds in 7 years of free ranging. I believe my roos and bushes, as well as, a loose dog have protected them. And yes if the eagletts are most likely hatched by now.