A bald eagle is killing my free range chickens...should i shoot it?

you need ot talk to fish & wildlife, for a solution that is legal and everyone wins.

My vote goes to the eagle. Raise the chickens to feed the eagle. You may even get to witness a kill or two. But having been around for awhile and seeing a lot of chickens raised in wooded areas close to the house, you will lose all of them that are free ranging within 12 months or less. The coyotes, bobcats, foxes, coons, skunks, possums, owls and all raptor birds will decimate the free ranging chickens. And the snakes feast on the eggs and biddies. It is almost impossible to raise chickens when woods for predators are close by.

Another culprit will be your best friend doing the killing when you are not home ( your dog )

Alright, so you're basically saying "well, I could build a mobile free range coop like the big boys do or cover an enclosure to ensure that my chickens do not suffer attrition from bald eagles, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, feral cats and other predators of common fowl, but that's just too hard and (continues weenie whining)"

Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember: it's a sin to kill a bald eagle.

Raptors are incredible animals and, to me, the good it does my spirit just to watch one is worth more than the intermittent donation of a chicken. Seriously, look into mobile foraging pens and keep them in a covered enclosure. That's pretty basic, day-one chicken wisdom if you're in a place with any sort of opportunistic predators.

Cant tell you what to do. Can tell you it's illegal, you can check it out. I can mention that post like this are normally placed to generate web traffic, with the actual subject a fabrication. Know for certain it's imperative I say to you, "Don't shoot your eye out". I dont shoot eagles myself, its illegal. It's your choice, can maybe call US Fish & Wildlife when your done shooting, or before shooting if you want. See what they say, if you're not just making this up. Can always add additional info as an update.

EDIT: You have a hard time reading, I have a hard believing, something in common huh?

It's already there "moe", put your glasses on and read it again.

Would you be asking this question if it were a red tail hawk? Same string... different yo yo.

Anything free range is subject to predators. It`s your responsibility to keep your livestock safe and properly penned and if one of your chickens causes a wreck or some other catastrophe for someone...WHOSE chicken is it?

If you have one eagle causing you troubles - that means you actually have 2 eagles, since they usually hang in pairs.......... and after nesting season you should have 4 of them. Eagles tend to displace the smaller birds of prey, but, once the eagles are removed these smaller species are pretty quick to fill the void...... so unless you intend to spend the rest of your life killing pairs of birds of prey - shooting is not your solution.

Deciding on having free range chickens in an area with birds of prey - is not a well thought out undertaking.

I do know egales are not fond of ravens and crows - these are the birds you see harassing eagles and usually moving the eagles to new areas. You can try putting up raven or crow decoys, but, unless you move them around every few days I expect the eagles will get wise to them.

Your only solution is to give up the free range and put a protective cover over the top. That, and if you are in an area that supports an active eagle population - you should also have an active fox or coyote issue too.

No, No, NO!

Buy more chickens.....

I never saw an eagle until I was over 50.....now I have seen 4 in the wild. Do not kill an eagle!

Give the chickens triple A...or put some "chicken wire" over top of the pen...plus, you may want to re-think the free range model.

I would plead with your Fish and Wildlife Department to see if they could possibly capture the bird and relocate it. To push things along, contact your state representative or state senator and address the issue to them. Maybe they will persuade the Fish and Wildlife people to actively pursue your problem. You might even contact the Federal Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife) to see what they might do since it's a protected species nationwide.

If you do you will find it a lot more expensive that replacing your chickens.

A LOT.

In addition to the criminal convictions (Federal Felony) and the fines, they will take all your guns.

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LMAO! he he...It helps if you know that the California Condor and the Spotted Owl are endangered species as well! lol