Quote:
You either have them or don't. I have a family that keeps fairly close but they disappear for several days at a time. BTW, owls, hawks and eagles will kill crows if they can catch them. Usually, however, they mob them with so many birds at a time that it keeps the raptor from zeroing in on a single crow. Also I suspect, given the crow's intelligence, that only the dumb, inexperienced crows get caught and the others learn from it.
Here is a good little short article on feeding crows.
http://www.birdhouses101.com/bird-Crow.asp And some explanation why they take eggs on occasion. By the way I have Ravens which fly in smaller family groups. I absolutely adore both. Very intellegent problem solvers.
A few years back I had a Turkey who was a big goof ball. Hed fluff up and try to intimidate you. As soon as you took a step toward him he would skitter off. His name was Mr T. One day I heard a big ruckus Wings flapping and scratching and I go into the coop and here is Mr T Beating the crap out of a chicken.... so I thought. Mr. T had done this before with a Srappy mean rooster.
Mr T was using his wings and feet and beak. I reached in and pulled Mr T off only to find a dead young raven that had been driven into the corner. His eyes were shut and he was on his back. So I go to Pick him up to dispose of the "body".
He opened one eye. Saw me and Shut it immediately. He was cold too bout this time of year its cold in the morinings. He was ice cold. So I turned him over and wrapped him up under my jacket and went over to the porch to sit while he warmed up. Id peek now and then his eyes were open but as soon as hed see me theyd shut again. I suspect he was trying to figure out if I was going to hurt him too. There was no blood his wings worked. I gently pulled them out and he didnt resist. It took about a half hour before he moved on his own. I took him out to the drive and tried to set him in the tree. He hopped right down took one look at me and the last I saw of him he was walking down the driveway Toward Mexico.
It was then that I realized why my eggs were disappearing on occasion. I dont begrudge them. My next coop will be safe from that kind of predation.
