A video showing a chicken’s dramatic escape from a low-flying bald eagle has captured the attention of millions of viewers.
The video, posted by user @lauraluuuuuu, has been viewed more than 3.3 million times since it was posted on September 24. Filmed at a restaurant and ranch in Colorado, the video depicts a tense chase between the chicken and the eagle, with viewers (and the video’s narrator) rooting for the chicken’s survival. A caption shared with the post reads, “Go chicken, go!!! We support the little chicken against the bald eagle.”
In the video, an eagle can be seen soaring low over a field as the hen frantically runs toward a coop. A voiceover can be heard encouraging the hen: “Oh my God. Run, little hen, run!”
As the eagle draws closer, the voice continues, “Go, chicken, go. Get to the coop. Please, please, please.”
The narrator says, “You can do it,” in a tense final moment as the chicken manages to reach the safety of the coop and the eagle flies away.
In a follow-up comment on TikTok, @lauraluuuuu said the chickens were not hers but belonged to the ranch where the video was filmed. “This is not my property, these chickens belong to a restaurant/ranch,” she added. “I was just supporting the little guy and I’m so happy he made it to the coop.”
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website states that bald eagles are one of the largest raptors in North America and are “rarely seen away from water.” They are often found near reservoirs and along large rivers such as the South Platte, Arkansas, and Colorado. Although primarily fish eaters, bald eagles are opportunistic hunters, preying on waterfowl, small mammals, and even carrion.
According to the American Eagle Foundation, although fish make up 70 to 90 percent of a bald eagle’s diet, as opportunists, they feed on whatever is most available.
“Bald eagles often follow the fall migration of ducks and geese and feed on birds injured by hunters,” the foundation adds. The eagles are known to prey on small mammals such as marmots, muskrats and prairie dogs, animals similar in size to the chicken seen in the video.
The CPW adds that bald eagles feed on “sick or injured waterfowl, muskrats, squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs and often eat carrion and roadkill.”
While it is unclear whether the eagle in the video was specifically targeting the chicken for food or simply investigating the scene, its behavior is consistent with its role as a highly adaptable predator, seizing available opportunities.
“The National Geographic moment”
The video resonated with TikTok users, who expressed relief and admiration for the chicken’s courage.
BakerNation said, “I’m so glad the little chicken made it!” — a sentiment echoed by many who witnessed this remarkable encounter between predator and prey.
One user, barefootbanditcom, commented: “So happy for the little chicken,” while another user, hectorjherradamun, posted: “Dude!!!!! That was close.”
“That’s a fucking eagle! You just captured a National Geographic moment! Awesome!” wrote user4880718247518.
Kricket commented: “I had to chase chickens chased by hawks when I was a kid, they stressed me out so much at the age of 7.”
Other viewers appreciated the human element in the scene, like Ken, who posted: “I was way too emotionally invested in these scenes, because of the comments.”
Another user, Texasgirl_kris, commented on the chicken’s quick escape, saying, “This little chicken went into sport mode and took off at the end! Lol [laugh out loud] I’m glad she arrived!
The intensity of the scene also left some viewers feeling anxious. “This was so STRESSFUL,” EatGFree wrote, while BakerNation added, “I was NOT prepared to be under this much stress so early in the morning. So glad the little chicken showed up!”
Newsweek reached out to the original video’s author for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Do you have a travel video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on News week.
