First chicken fatality

[foggybok]

I saw my rooster go flying past the window today.....in the talons of a bald eagle. Poor thing, I feel so bad. I was really getting to like him, even though I didn't want any roosters... So much for free range chicken.... Now I have 11 girls left. I hope she has not decided that this is a good place to come eat.... I imagine she will be back. The chickens love to roam the pastures, but we probably have to put a stop to that.....

[shakeytails]

Wow, I would have loved to see the Bald Eagle!

I've lost plenty of ducks and guineas to other wildlife. I figure it just happens and they gotta eat, too. Now when the neighbors cat was killing my ducks just for fun- that was a different story!

[OnyxThePony]

Aw. I love chickies. Our roosters were mostly jerks, but it's hard to lose even one. Although, like shakey, I'd be thrilled to see a bald eagle that close! I'd be tempted to buy more chicks..

[ReSomething]

Well, I have to say the vision that conjures up is rather different. How big are Bald Eagles anyway? Must be huge.

I have seven free rangers and they run from under the stock trailer to under the deck, and then back. Funny as heck to watch. DH says they've been cruised by our local raptors, whatever we have, buzzards maybe. I would miss one of the hens, not so much the roosters, but losing livestock gets expensive. Sorry about that.

[foggybok]

Wow, I would have loved to see the Bald Eagle!

I've lost plenty of ducks and guineas to other wildlife. I figure it just happens and they gotta eat, too. Now when the neighbors cat was killing my ducks just for fun- that was a different story!

Here she is in our tree sans chicken..

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn304/foggybok/E2.jpg

And on the prowl

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn304/foggybok/E4.jpg

She lives across the street, has a 15 foot nest up in the neighbors tree. I guess she ate the negihbors ducks too.... She is huge, the neighbor saw her up close one day..walked out of the house and she was right there...looking for duck....

She's beautiful, but I would like to be able to keep the chickens....

[Guin]

What a gorgeous bird! I'd be tempted to raise chickens as eagle food!

[RiverBendPol]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, I'm sorry. We have an Eagle family too but they don't come in that close-thank goodness! What kind of chicken was your roosie? We have Buff Orpingtons which I would hope might be too big for a Eagle?

[cindylouwho]

I have a problem with red tailed hawks getting my hens. I had one land on my back porch and take out a hen, with no real concern when I walked back there.

I have had really good luck with a guinea warning system (not color coded!). My hens learned that when the guinea would scream, it was time to head for cover. I also run free range rabbits and they were quick to learn the warning system too. They would head for the brush pile or shed.

Good luck

[MistyBlue]

Well that had to be a surprising sight! :eek: Sorry for the loss of yoour rooster.
It's still got to be kind of cool to have a bald eagle around. (I wouldn't let small dogs out though) I'm on the other side of the country in CT and we don't have bald eagle normally. Our biggest raptors are probably vultures. Cool birds but not exactly what anyone would call majestic, LOL!
Well, I have to say the vision that conjures up is rather different. How big are Bald Eagles anyway? Must be huge.

Yeah, they're pretty huge. There isn't a chicken on the planet a bald eagle wouldn't grab if it gets the chance. They're also strong as heck and can fly off with prey larger than themselves. Not that they're still flying gracefully, but they can get airborn if they have to. If it's really large they'll eat it on the ground and defend it, which they also do a good job of. Here's a decent photo showing the size of a bald eagle:

http://images.cnhi.zope.net/images_sizedimage_321004007/lg

[shakeytails]

She's beautiful! I think you might have to look into a "chicken tractor" if you want to keep your birds safe.

MistyBlue thanks for the link- I knew they were big but I didn't realize quite how big.

[JER]

A good-sized bald eagle can make off with up to 15 lbs. Think fawn. It happens.

We have a few that visit our farm in BC, mostly to check out the neighbors' chickens or trout pond. One of them is huge, close to a meter tall. The first time I saw it from a distance standing on the ground, I thought it was a border collie.

Which means I keep a close watch on my tiny dog, although he's the slimmest of pickings and would not make a good meal.

But damn, those eagles are beautiful.

[ReSomething]

:eek:OMG, that bird has what? a twelve foot wingspan? I'm impressed. And handsome too, no wonder it is the national symbol.

[JSwan]

A good-sized bald eagle can make off with up to 15 lbs. Think fawn. It happens.


I see them pretty frequently around here - seen three so far this year. Two grappling in the air over my back yard (chickens disappeared and were hiding under bushes and trees), and one out riding at a friend's barn - saw one swoop down and glide over the pond next to the arena. See 'em out foxhunting, too.

Which brings me to my favorite story - don't know if it's a real tale but it sounds good.

A friend of mine, an Oglala Lakota - said when you encounter a bald eagle it means you are on the right path in life.

Since most of my sightings have been while I'm riding or around horses - I'd like to think that is true. :) At least for me. For foggybok's rooster well - um - not so much.

Sorry about your rooster, foggybok. But wow - gorgeous eagle and fantastic photos!

Seems that if the eagle is a permanent fixture chicken tractors may be a good idea.

[MistyBlue]

Lucky JSwan to have them there. There have been a few rare sightings in my state, but southern New England isn't a normal area for them.
Aren't they gorgeous? So regal...and HUGE. I think the average wingspan in the females is about 8 feet, they stand 3 feet tall. (females are bigger than males) For some reason eight foot wingspan sounds big but not huge in type...but photos of an 8 foot wingspan being used makes yoou realize just how big that can be. :eek: Powerful birds though, very strong. They weigh about 15 lbs grown and can fly off with 15 lbs of prey easily. Those wings are massively strong, same as the talons. I think the California Condor is the largest flying bird in this country though. Can't remember offhand what their wingspan is but I think it's more like 10'. Raptors aren't really my thing when it comes to wildlife, so not sure.
But there's few things I enjoy more in life than watching raptors. I could watch them all day, such gorgeous birds. (same with my barn swallows, like watching little mini fighter planes, LOL) I can see why they chose the bald eagle as our national symbol...Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey. :lol:
Although I'm sure the turkey probably tastes better...I certainly wouldn't want to see a stuffed bald eagle on my Thanksgiving table. :winkgrin:

[Roan]

Just a note . . .since we are talking about raptors.. .

I used to do a lot of Native American craftwork and I've found that many people do not realize that it is a federal offense to possess a feather from a raptor, regardless of how you got it. Even if you have found one on the ground, it is illegal to have it.

That's for all raptors: owl, eagle, hawk, vulture, condor, falcon

In order to have one legally -- and they *do* prosecute, btw -- you have to have a license. Native Americans are given "first dibs" on licenses and last I looked (2004) there was a 1 year waiting list.

Just saying.

Eileen

[foggybok]

I see them pretty frequently around here - seen three so far this year. Two grappling in the air over my back yard (chickens disappeared and were hiding under bushes and trees), and one out riding at a friend's barn - saw one swoop down and glide over the pond next to the arena. See 'em out foxhunting, too.

Which brings me to my favorite story - don't know if it's a real tale but it sounds good.

A friend of mine, an Oglala Lakota - said when you encounter a bald eagle it means you are on the right path in life.

Since most of my sightings have been while I'm riding or around horses - I'd like to think that is true. :) At least for me. For foggybok's rooster well - um - not so much.

Sorry about your rooster, foggybok. But wow - gorgeous eagle and fantastic photos!

Seems that if the eagle is a permanent fixture chicken tractors may be a good idea.

Well, since she lives here, then I guess this is my right path :) (even if it wasn't for poor Greybeard....)

[vacation1]

A good-sized bald eagle can make off with up to 15 lbs. Think fawn. It happens.

Jesus H. I've read about small dogs being snatched, and the stories are awful. I know someone with a toy who had to pick him up and leave a park because a hawk was being way too interested and wouldn't go away. Amazing how fearless they can be.

[Chardavej]

WOW 8 foot wingspan, I'm sitting here looking at my 8 foot tall ceilings and imagining a pair of wings spread along my wall, that's huge!

We have free range chickens, hubby one day was on the tractor and a red-tailed hawk flew down right beside him as he was driving by the chickens and the hawk grabbed one! He jumped off the tractor without thinking and ran at the hawk, the hawk was so startled it dropped the chicken and flew off, chicken was ok. But yea, we lose a few to racoons and coyotes and hawks. Makes me sad.

A neighborhood dog got my bug white turkey last month, I cried like a baby when I found her! Didn't do anything to her but kill her, that made me mad! Just bit her neck. We buried her at the trailhead. I want another turkey so bad! They are so cool! She would let me pet her along her back and if I was sitting in a chair would come and sit down beside me. Plus the "boink boink" noise they made is so freaking cute! They sound like water droplets hitting water.

[JSwan]

In order to have one legally -- and they *do* prosecute, btw -- you have to have a license. Native Americans are given "first dibs" on licenses and last I looked (2004) there was a 1 year waiting list.

Just saying.

Eileen

That's a great reminder. The friend who told me that story used to come out to the barn (when I boarded) with his wife and friend. The pastures were full of eagle feathers because it was also a nesting ground - and they'd go collect them. But - he was Lakota, she was Delaware, and the friend was Ponca. They could do it legally - the rest of us just admired the birds and left the feathers alone.

There was a store near me that sold such crafts and also held classes - I used to hang out there and make things. We used white turkey feathers with their tips dipped in black paint as a substitute.