Are yard birds predators?

[The Clark Farm]

So I live in central Florida and we have tons of birds. Crows, pigeons, several types of ocean birds, probably 10 different types overall that come around? Well, today I look outside and there are birds clinging to the chicken run looking inside like they’re trying to get in! There’s food around the yard but they just watch the chickens. We have some hysterical pigeons who love to come hang out with the chickens when they’re around the yard. They pigeons really love the chickens. I have zero worries about the pigeons, and no fear about the woodpeckers, but what about large crows? There’s also a super angry blue jay that dive bombs the stray cats. Do random birds ever go rogue? The chickens chase the pigeons off whenever they come around (even though they’re just chillin with them) but the giant crows get close and linger on the fence posts! The blue jay also tries to attack the crows but to no avail. Should I worry? I know the cats are a threat but they really aren’t around.

 

[twendt]

I have bird feeders in my yard about 10 ft from my enclosed garden where my hens live, they only hide behind the coop or composter when hawks fly over, otherwise, no wild birds bother my girls. We have Blue jays, woodpeckers, and crows.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I think I've heard of crows attacking chicks but fully grown chickens...I'm not sure!

The worst wild bird we have around ours is magpies. They'll take eggs and chicks. Even go into the coop itself. They're an absolute pain but we can't do anything about them now.

As for other birds, we've never had any issue. Pigeons will mingle with our chickens but that's mainly just when there is food on the go. They're too scared of the chickens to get too close.

We also rarely get seagulls and such birds around ours but I don't doubt that if given the chance, they'd also take eggs and chicks. They're very opportunistic and will take advantage.

 

[ColtHandorf]

In general songbirds will not pose any direct harm to the chickens. Crows are omnivorous as are many sea faring species like gulls. Crows and ravens will often take eggs and chicks. I've heard of them killing adult chickens as well but I've never witnessed any corvid displaying that sort of behavior. The crows at my place completely ignore the chickens of all ages. As stated above gulls are opportunistic omnivores an d will readily take eggs and young birds. I might not even trust some of the more ornamental adults like Polish and Silkies around gulls.

 

[Eggscaping]

So I live in central Florida and we have tons of birds. Crows, pigeons, several types of ocean birds, probably 10 different types overall that come around? Well, today I look outside and there are birds clinging to the chicken run looking inside like they’re trying to get in! There’s food around the yard but they just watch the chickens. We have some hysterical pigeons who love to come hang out with the chickens when they’re around the yard. They pigeons really love the chickens. I have zero worries about the pigeons, and no fear about the woodpeckers, but what about large crows? There’s also a super angry blue jay that dive bombs the stray cats. Do random birds ever go rogue? The chickens chase the pigeons off whenever they come around (even though they’re just chillin with them) but the giant crows get close and linger on the fence posts! The blue jay also tries to attack the crows but to no avail. Should I worry? I know the cats are a threat but they really aren’t around.

Just watched one of those wildlife type shows on Nat Geo the other day where crows were taking newly-hatched ducklings. I've also seen crows swoop down on very small squirrels crossing the road on a power line and knocking them off. Then they go down to the road and eat the dead squirrel. So - crows ARE predators. Other than that, I've seen some people on here say that encouraging wild birds can expose chickens to various diseases that wild birds carry, or lice, worms, and so on.
That being said, I love watching wild birds and intend to have bird feeders, but intend also to use hardware cloth and roofs to keep the birds completely out of the chicken coops and runs. I know there will still be exposure if we let the chooks out to do a limited bit of free-range, but no way I want the freeloaders going into the coops and chowing down on chicken food.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Yes crows will take chicks and eat eggs if they were in an outside nest for some reason. I have a family of ravens hanging out by the chicken coop right now and I free range. The ravens are not bothering anything they have one raven chick it’s big, the good thing about crows and ravens is they will run off hawks. I agree also magpies are jerks they will eat or kill anything they can get away with if it’s not to big and will eat the eyes out of newborn calves and other small young animals I hate them.

 

[aart]

Not to mention that wild birds may be carrying mites and lice...
...best to keep them away from your chickens.

 

[The Clark Farm]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the info!