crows and hawks

[Kittymomma]

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x2 Also they're not 100% effective, but they help ALOT especially if you freerange your birds.

 

[hallerlake]

I wouldn't trust them around eggs or baby chicks either.


Quote:
x2 Also they're not 100% effective, but they help ALOT especially if you freerange your birds.

 

[chickensista]

I've seen our local crow family chase a hawk off on more than one occasion. They also woke me up one morning around 5AM circling a fox near the coop. They are protecting their territory, but are not protecting the chickens. Keep your youngsters safe. The hawks can and will take out a crow if given the chance. Hopefully our family is smarter than the hawks, since there are only 4 members. (we had a lot wiped out from west nile too)

Crows will get to know you. Start a routine of feeding them at a certain time of day or throwing out food when you see them around. Soon they will be following you around.

 

[hallerlake]

I know they're not protecting the chickens. We have/had a crow's nest in the yard. They're protecting that, but I'll take advantage of them as much as I can.


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[gritsar]

I toss out scratch for em, just in a different area from where my chickens get their scratch. A different part of the garden.

 

[matimeo]

My neighborhood is crawling with crows, and up until now, absolutely no issues with hawks. I once saw some crows chasing one off in the distance. I am grateful because I want my chickens to free range my back yard.

 

[hallerlake]

I only let mine free range when I'm home, and can listen for the crows. I wouldn't expect them to take care of an eagle or hawk on their own.



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[MVchickens]

How do you guys attract crows and keep em around? They are around my place occasionally but never seem to stick around for any period of time.

 

[woodmort]

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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.

 

[gritsar]

"Our" crows disappear from time to time. The one predator loss - hawk - I've had so far happened when the crows hadn't been around for awhile.
A few days later the crows were back and you could actually see my flocks visibly relax.