Crows and Hawks

[centrarchid]

For some reason American Crows do not hang around my poultry areas very much. When they do it is not positive as they are after eggs. Game hens then actively run crows off even though not broody yet. Blue Jays provide alarm but are often the target themselves of Coopers Hawks and they have been seen retreating to safety to chicken pens.

Only protection I have observed from wild birds in currently location has been provided by Red-shouldered Hawks and Eastern Kingbirds. Red-shouldered Hawk are good only during spring some years while the flycatchers did their bit only one spring and summer. My place has to be in the core of a breeding territory for protection to be afforded. Each year is very different. Very different.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Thank you Two Crows for the information, always been curious. We also have jays real bad, mean to. So I think we have crows then. I believe I see them cashing out in the field. Thank you once again, & everyone

 

[drumstick diva]

Once I heard crows making a racket in a tree- could not imagine why until I saw a hawk near the top of the tree. It didn't take long before it took the hint and flew off. I thought it was really awesome that they worked together to mob him.

 

[drumstick diva]

My friend Arline was complaining about the crows around her yard. Then she decided to start feeding them - she said she has one big one and one smaller. The both come and wait to be fed. Squirrels kept digging up her flower bulbs - yep she started feeding them too.

I get a kick out of her stories. She is very tough and prickly on the outside but, is a marshmallow inside.

She has two house chickens serama & silkie hens, and a very "hen" pecked peke-a-poo dog. Arline whips up a buffet for them and they pick and choose what they want. Maybe not the best choices to feed chickens or a dog but, they really are kids to her.

 

[TwoCrows]

My friend Arline was complaining about the crows around her yard. Then she decided to start feeding them - she said she has one big one and one smaller. The both come and wait to be fed. Squirrels kept digging up her flower bulbs - yep she started feeding them too.

I get a kick out of her stories. She is very tough and prickly on the outside but, is a marshmallow inside.

She has two house chickens serama & silkie hens, and a very "hen" pecked peke-a-poo dog. Arline whips up a buffet for them and they pick and choose what they want. Maybe not the best choices to feed chickens or a dog but, they really are kids to her.

I feed my Ravens too. Ravens are such highly intelligent birds, I find the interaction with them fascinating. They have learned ways to get my attention by standing under the kitchen window staring and calling to me. Years ago one of them learned to get on the deck, walk up the steps and tap on the screen door. Love these birds.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

What do you feed them? Is there anything specific?

 

[sunflour]

Love it Kathy!!!!!!

Now, if I have my Crows and Ravens ID correct, I would say this is a Raven! Crows have fan type tails and Ravens have more pointy wedge shaped tails. And of course Crows are much smaller than Northern Ravens. (The Chihuahuan Ravens are only slightly bigger than Crows). Beaks on Ravens are more round and thick where as Crows have flatter thinner beaks.

(Sorry about the Ornithology lesson here, you MUST know I have a Crow Raven obsession)


Thanks Kathy for sharing, 2 thumbs up!!

Love the lessons All we ever see here I think are the Crows, but they only come occasionally and don't stay

So I use a net to keep the hawks away

I'm in need of ordering a hawk net, what type / source is yours?

 

[TwoCrows]

What do you feed them? Is there anything specific?

Crows tend to be grain eaters, (cracked corn, scratch, etc...) Ravens would rather eat something meaty, so I feed them dry dog food. However Crows would probably eat dry dog food as well. Make sure its small dog or puppy sized morsels. Once in a while I give them a treat of peanut butter crackers, broken into pieces.

Dog food is actually good for them. Rehabilitation centers feed dog food the Ravens in captivity. Has all the good nutrients they need.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Awesome thanks once again we have other wild birds, but they get crust, bird seed, suet, where the crows are they 'd enjoy

 

[lissalischicks]

My friend Arline was complaining about the crows around her yard. Then she decided to start feeding them - she said she has one big one and one smaller. The both come and wait to be fed. Squirrels kept digging up her flower bulbs - yep she started feeding them too.

I get a kick out of her stories. She is very tough and prickly on the outside but, is a marshmallow inside.

She has two house chickens serama & silkie hens, and a very "hen" pecked peke-a-poo dog. Arline whips up a buffet for them and they pick and choose what they want. Maybe not the best choices to feed chickens or a dog but, they really are kids to her.

Your friend Arline sounds like my mom. She "hates" the chickens and says it's a burden to take care of but she is the one that goes to the store and buys them things. my outside fridge is 2/3 full of chicken stuff. She even gets them fish (and debones) when they molt because she feels I do not do a good job. I can tell you she has never deboned my fish before.