Can a large bald eagle take down a full grown ostrich?

[bravevline]

Can the ostrich defend its vulnerable neck?

 

[4 the Birds]

Can the ostrich defend its vulnerable neck?

Hard to say but I would highly doubt that a bald eagle would go after an adult ostrich! We briefly thought about owning a few ostriches but I would always worry about bending down around them. They could kill a human with a kick to the head!

 

[sunset]

Get them in a egg .... Hatch them so they think u are there mom .....I have emu's now because the big guys scare me too

 

[29PalmsRanch]

Can the ostrich defend its vulnerable neck?

LOL! Ok let's analyze the bird for a second. I have a good strong flock of ostriches. Some I bought as adults (males for breeding), and other stock that I raised from chicks to now breeding age. And boy are they putting out eggs lol )

The birds can see over anything that would hide a predator in a field. Most animals won't try to take something out that is literally 10x larger than itself. There are always exceptions to the rule. The ostrich has 17 vertebrae in their necks and very very little muscle. If you gain control of the head of an ostrich, you've pretty much got control of the bird as long as you aren't standing right in front of it. If you do and the bird isn't comfortable with you, it's going to try to kick the dog snot out of you.

However my birds are very comfortable with me. I can walk up to any of them, throw an arm across their back and go for a conversation and a walk ) It's a good idea to NOT attempt this when a male is in the vicinity of a female he has taken a liking to though...

I have seen my birds confront 2 dogs and 1 coyote. I shot and killed both dogs. Both were wild. The birds ran the coyote off before I could get him. These guys have pretty sharp vision. The can sustain a 45 mph run for 30 minutes straight. We also have a lama named Bama who is our pasture alarm. He screeches anytime something other than himself or an ostrich is in the main pasture. Deer season last year was awesome! I didn't have to leave my front porch. When Bama goes off we know it's either the neighbor's peacock, a dog/coyote, or a deer.

But to answer your question? I don't know if a bald eagle would go after an ostrich. I imagine it would probably have a hard time with it, because the ostrich would probably see it and startle. Unless they are way in season, mine run first, then turn to fight.

But a chick? I've heard stories of chickenhawks making off them them. I'll bet an eagle wood too. I keep all of my little ones under wire always, behind 1 x 3 inch fence panels. The first course of fence panels are buried 12 inches in clay dirt. I fasten them to 4 x 4 treated posts set 3 feet into concrete with heavy gauge galvanized fence staples. I don't like to build things more than once I use 12 foot posts so that we have 9 feet of head room. I don't want the birds to feel like they are in a cave I don't use aviary netting for these guys because they don't fly and won't bonk their heads if they spook like quail or pheasants. I use 1 inch heavy gauge galvanized chicken wire for the roof with a few shaded areas that are covered by tin at the top and 2x6 treated lumber in a plank style siding for wind shelter under the tin. We use these chick grow out areas from time to time for injured birds. It's not common but sometimes they will have a kicking contest or whatever and separation is a good thing

If you are going to get them, protect them

 

[Sparrow]

Hard to say but I would highly doubt that a bald eagle would go after an adult ostrich! We briefly thought about owning a few ostriches but I would always worry about bending down around them. They could kill a human with a kick to the head!

So can a horse. I will not let that deter me when I am in a position to get a few ostriches.

 

[4 the Birds]

So can a horse. I will not let that deter me when I am in a position to get a few ostriches.

29Palms: Interesting to hear form an Ostrich Farmer firsthand! Bald Eagles also typically hunt and live in different regions from Ostriches in the wild. Of course a farmer could keep Ostriches up north in Eagle territories. Kinda like posting: "Can a lion take down a polar bear?"

Sparrow: Also why I don't own horses.

Our goats are pretty harmless as far as a kick but I am for sure always alert of their horns when I am bending down low. A horn in the face would not be fun.

 

[29PalmsRanch]

) Personally I would not bend down in front of an ostrich. It's that "just in case" factor. We have horses too, but even with them, when you are cleaning out hooves or whatever, you also position yourself so that if they kick or shift their weight, you are out of harm's way.