Internet Invested As Chicken Chased by Eagle on Ranch: ‘So Stressed’

A video showcasing the dramatic escape of a chicken from a low-flying bald eagle has captured the attention of millions of viewers.
The clip, posted by user @lauraluuuuu, has amassed more than 3.3 million views since it was shared on September 24. Filmed at a restaurant and ranch in Colorado, the footage highlights 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!!! rooting for little chicken vs bald eagle.”
In the video, an eagle can be seen gliding low over a field as the chicken runs frantically toward a coop. A voice off-camera is heard encouraging the chicken: “Oh my God. Go, run little chicken, run!”
As the eagle draws closer, the voice continues: “Go, chicken go. Make it to the coop. Please, please, please.”
The narrator says, “You got this,” in a tense final moment as the chicken manages to reach the safety of the coop, and the eagle veers off.
In a follow-up comment on TikTok, @lauraluuuuu said that the chickens were not her own but belong to the ranch where the video was filmed. “This is not my property, these chickens are owned by a restaurant/ranch,” she added. “I was just rooting for the lil guy and so happy it made it to the coop.”
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website says that bald eagles are one of North America’s largest birds of prey and are “seldom seen far from water.” They are often found near reservoirs and along major rivers such as the South Platte, Arkansas, and Colorado. Though primarily fish-eaters, bald eagles are opportunistic hunters, preying on waterfowl, small mammals, and even carrion.
The American Eagle Foundation says that, while fish make up 70 to 90 percent of a bald eagle’s diet, as opportunists they will feed on what is most available.
“Bald eagles will often follow the fall migration of ducks and geese and feed on birds that have been injured by hunters,” the foundation adds. Eagles have been known to prey on small mammals such as groundhogs, muskrats, and prairie dogs—animals similar in size to the chicken seen in the video.
CPW adds that bald eagles will eat “sick and injured waterfowl, muskrats, squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs, and often eat carrion and road-killed animals.”
Though it is unclear whether the eagle in the video was specifically targeting the chicken for food or merely investigating the scene, its behavior aligns with its role as a highly adaptable predator, seizing available opportunities.
The video resonated with TikTok users, who expressed their relief and admiration for the chicken’s bravery.
BakerNation said: “I’m so glad the little chicken made it!”—a sentiment shared by many who witnessed this remarkable encounter between predator and prey.
One viewer, barefootbanditcom, commented, “So happy for little chicken,” while another user, hectorjherradamun, posted: “Man!!!!! that was close.”
“Is that a freaking Eagle! You just filmed a National Geographic moment! Sweet!” wrote user4880718247518.
Kricket commented: “I’ve had to SPRINT after chickens being chased by hawks as a child, they got me so stressed at the ripe age of 7.”
Other viewers appreciated the human element in the scene, with ken. posting: “I was far too emotionally invested in those, because of the commentary.”
Another user, Texasgirl_kris, remarked on the chicken’s quick getaway, saying: “That lil’ chicken put it in sports mode and took off at the end! Lol [laugh out loud] glad she made it!”
The intensity of the scene also left some viewers anxious. “This was SO STRESSFUL,” wrote EatGFree, while BakerNation added: “I was NOT ready for that much stress this early in the morning. I’m so glad the little chicken made it!”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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