Bald eagle tried to eat one of my hens

[hallerlake]

Quote:
Hmm, maybe we should bring our wyandottes over to your house to play... Would love to have a wine closet!

We've never had enough wine to stock it. My husband is allergic to sulfites. I could offer you some sake. he can drink that.

 

[hallerlake]

It's been one week since the eagle attack. The wounds looked worse than they really were. Roz only lost a couple of quarter sized patches of skin along with all her back feathers. There's no sign of infection. I've been using the blu-kote since Friday. Before that I was using iodine solution. She spends her days outside in a dog crate next to the tractor. She and the other girls seem happier near each other. Her appetite is better outside, too. I'm going to do some supervised free ranging this evening to see if the other girls try to peck her back.

 

[Debbi]

LOL!! I've chased coyotes in my underpants (ugly picture) with a shovel!! You go girl!!

 

[fl_deb]

I'm so glad your Roz is doing okay!

Remember: Hesitation Kills!

Way to go on your save!

 

[7L Farm]

Great post & good save. Hope Roz is doing good . Chickens seem to have a big problem with everything trying to eat them.Keep your eye to the sky & good luck.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Nice save! I can't freerange my birds for the same reason. The bald eagles love to sit in trees in my yard and stare at the chickens in their covered runs. 2 years ago we even had a juvenile swooping down after my dogs (I assume they were after my little papillon) but luckily the dog run is only 20'x25' and I don't think it could figure out how to get down in there and back out, and the dogs running and barking their heads off were confusing it I think...

 

[Dragonfly99]

Glad to hear your chicken is ok, and I'm really glad you posted this story! I saw an eagle hovering around my chickens a couple of days ago. Until I got my girls in July, I had never seen an eagle in our yard. I guess I better get moving on putting the netting over their run. I would love to free range them, but there are just too many predators around here.

 

[hallerlake]

They did some supervised free ranging in the evening. Half the yard is wide open, and half the yard has low branching trees. I figure if I'm there to keep them under the trees, they're probably safe. Roz really enjoyed the chance for a good dust bath. The other girls showed no interest in pecking Roz, so she stayed the night in the coop with them. Life is more or less back to normal.

 

[desertdarlene]

Wow, I'm so glad Roz is OK and the eagle didn't get very far with her before she was dropped.

I wouldn't feel 100% secure having them under the trees, unless they're short trees or shrubs as other types of hawks and falcons attack from trees, too.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
They're short, low branched trees, mostly apples. The girls are getting too big for hawks, and the eagles have problems under the trees. There are shrubs as well. The girls mostly stayed under the lilac yesterday. Plus, I'm there. I think that eagle will hesitate to tangle with the crazy lady. Heck, the eagle can't even see them under the trees.