Eagles

[BlackBart]

Lots of Eagles perching in the trees over people's coops this year. The newspaper said the Eagles are starving.......I don't know?

Anybody else have a Eagle problem this year?

I shot some rocks at one this morning. He was sitting approx 40 up in a tree. All the chickens were making a ruckus and hiding. Thankfully I made lots of places for them to hide. Usually the Ravens chase them off, they were nowhere to be seen.

I am sure it will be back.

 

[Imp]

Why do they think they are starving?

Imp

 

[bobbi-j]

We have over 30 of them hanging around our grove. They're eating dead fish out of a little lake that froze out. They also sit in the tree at the corner of our yard which is at the opposite end of our farm farm from where the chicken coop is. About the length of a city block. They fly over the house, the barn, the chicken coop all day long. My birds are staying in their run until the eagles move on. I think they're awesome birds and want them to hang around as long as possible.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
Poor salmon run

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Poor salmon run

That was my first thought, but then thought salmon aren't running this time a year. Guess it was last year's run. That's very sad for them, long time to be hungry. I'd probably be out there trying to feed them.

Imp- not my chickens though.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Well as much as I like Eagles and think they are marvelous creatures, and love nothing more than the sight of them flying above or perching in a tree. I would keep my chickens up and if you feed them, they will be enticed to stay near you....this is one of those 'D" if you do and "D" if you don't..... but please don't harm them. They have had a hard struggle to make a come back thanks to man's stupidity.

 

[bgates1970]

I may be wrong but I believe Eagles are more scavengers looking for dead animals. The may kill chickens if they are starving but they don't have the lift power to carry it off.

The only animal not on my SSS list is the Eagle. If one decides to eat my chickens I say "Welcome".


http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle3.html

 

[BlackBart]

They will carry off chickens. They carried off several of my friends hens and one BCM Rooster. They also will carry off newborn lambs. Many Farmers have been putting LGD in the fields at lambing time.
Last year, on one of the Eagle cameras set up so you can watch a Eagle nest, a Eagle flew up with a big red Rooster to feed their young. The carcass was gone in no time flat.
I saw a Eagle carry off a Pomeranian dog.

I don't like it when people hurt the Eagles, Hawks, etc..

 

[bgates1970]

Not that it really matters but what kind of Eagle? Is it a Bald Eagle or Golden Eagle?

The photos or videos of lambs or baby deer being attacked are Golden Eagles. Two different species with completely different diets. Goldens staple diet is red meat. Balds are more fish eaters. Usually, Eagles won't pounce on their prey but swoop and try to grab it. They sort of use their momentum to lift and carry. They are also not very agile when flying. Eagles are like B52 bombers.... Hawks are like F15 fighter jets... So if you have some sort of obstructions (trees, teethered rope, etc...) the Eagle may not attempt it. Hawks are a different story.

As I stated before predatory birds can't carry off a 20 lb dogs. No way... not possible! The baby lamb seen carried off by a Golden probably weighed about 10 lbs which is not very heavy for a bird weighing 15-17 lbs. So yes a chicken would be an easy target.

Just my opinion! Either way you should be cautious.

 

[BlackBart]

Both types of Eagles. The one perched over my coop was a mature Bald Eagle. The one that killed my friend's BCM Roo was a Bald Eagle. The ones that killed the Lambs were Bald Eagles.
Last weekend the one that took my friend's hen was a Golden Eagle. There seems to be more those showing up.
Maybe they eat different things in this area. They don't seem to fish as much in the Ocean like they did when I was a kid. ???

I've seen Eagles kill and eat Seagulls and Ducks but never Geese.
They have to be pretty hungry to eat a Seagull.

Our resident Peacock was on high alert when the Eagle was around. He didn't like him at all.

I've seen the Ravens chase off a Eagle full speed flying through the trees. Weaving in and out. It is amazing they didn't hit anything.
At my Parents property on the ocean, they have a resident Eagle pair. One picked off a Grey Squirrel on their driveway. I've also seen Eagles break off a dead branches in full flight and keep on flying.

Last year when a Eaglet was hanging from the nest, the Conservation Branch hired a tree climber to go and see what the problem was. The baby was tangled in fishing line from something the parents brought home. He untangled it and it was fine. While up there he took a picture of the what was inside the nest.
Plastic bottles, shiny things and a small pet collar.