Bald Eagles - How worried should I be.

[barg]

There are a couple Bald eagles in my area that fly right over my house sometimes (usually being harrased by crows). We won't have our chickens outside for another month or more.
If I let them free range in the day are the eagles likely to take them?
In addition we have skunks, racoons, opossums, owls, but the chickens will be in their house at night (wood construction) I assume they wont be a problem?

 

[Picco]

If a bald eagle saw a chicken out in the open it would probably try to capture it but they usually don't hunt land animals. A bald eagle's diet consists mainly of fish and carrion. They are a big bird and find it difficult to hunt on land where more agility is needed to capture their prey. I've seen eagles eating ducks but they were caught on open water. I don't think you should worry to much. There is more of a risk from the other critters you listed.

 

[silkiechicken]

Bald eagles aren't really that big of a threat. Yes they can, but not if there is something easier to get to. My chickens will sound the alarm when they see danger and if any large bird is around, will hang out within a few yards from the front of their coop or near cars they can hide under. After a few losses, I purposely leave a few of the "elders" around as they know danger much better than the young ones.

 

[animalpro24]

Yes. You should worry about Eagals of any kind. We lost a full grown mallard to one.....please worry.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

I lost two yearling Roman Tufted geese to a pair of eagles in the same day. Lucky for me and my birds they were only passing through and stayed around my acreage for less than two weeks.

 

[Komaki]

Your best friend right now is the crows.

 

[desertdarlene]

Bald eagles can and do take birds, especially waterfowl. They prefer fish and a large part of their diet consists of that, but a sizable portion of their food consists of birds and even a few mammals.