Crows

[PouleNoire]

The crows have been mighty annoying lately

and I was wondering if they could hurt my girls?

Like make them sick. If so how can I get rid of them?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Any wild bird can carry disease or parasites to your flock - that would include crows. How/when are they harassing your flock? Are your birds confined or free ranging? Are the crows coming to get to your feed or just generally giving your flock a hard time? Knowing when the issues are occurring (ie out on the range area or within the coop/run, at feed stations or ...., etc) will help with suggestions on deterring the pests.

 

[PouleNoire]

Well, they come whenever where not there and the girls are free-ranging. They'll also eat a lot of the feed and get stuck in the coop.

 

[keesmom]

I've only had issues with crows scoping out very young chicks. Other than that they keep to themselves. They excel at harassing the hawks. Though the past week the blue jays have been doing their best at that job.

 

[keesmom]

Well, they come whenever where not there and the girls are free-ranging. They'll also eat a lot of the feed and get stuck in the coop.

Where are you located? Is there a drought or shortage of food for wildlife? I have never had crows eat poultry feed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

What sort of chickens are you keeping and how old are they? If the chickens are large enough, and depending on the size of the crows you are dealing with, a treadle feeder may curb their visits by making the feed inaccessible to them while still being accessible to your flock. What sort of feed are you feeding? Many folks mix all sorts of stuff into their feed that may be more palatable to the wild birds than plain poultry ration. Are you certain they are crows? Only asking as a lot of folks think just about any black bird is a crow - being certain of the species you are fighting is often key in fighting them.

 

[PouleNoire]

Good point Ol Grey Mare no I am not certain they are crows, although there are many of them there might be both. Now that you bring it up they might just be black birds they are smaller...