Crows?

[cupman]

I've been noticing birds of prey around lately as I think more about letting my birds free range during the day. Sometimes when I'm walking around my property I notice piles of feathers, obviously from some small bird. Well just the other day one of my friends mentioned he saw a lot of crows around my chicken coop, and sure enough half the time I walk out there I see a crow fly off. Are they real threats to chickens? The ones around here are pretty big crows. I seem to get mixed results on google. For now they are safe in a covered run.

 

[woodmort]

Crows may go for eggs and real small chicks but not adult chickens. In fact, they have such a hatred for raptors that they serve as an early warning system if hawks are around. Many people, myself included, encourage them for that reason.

 

[babylotzahenz]

I have heard that crows are beneficial to chickens as well, they will band together and chase off a hawk.

 

[thekid]

Im serious and im wondering is there a place to buy baby crows like baby chicks? Sorry OP im not trying to steal your thread sorry

 

[chickmashnoon]

As for the baby crow thing- you can get african crows thru specialty breeders but I don't believe it is legal to keep a native crow without a permit. However, for some reason, even tho you can't keep them as pets you CAN shoot them. I thought it would be really neat to get one. They can mimic a human voice kinda like a parrot.

I would worry more about them eating up my chicken feed or bringing diseases to my flock than physically harming them. However, I did hear ravens are dangerous.

 

[Equus5O]

One summer we were completely swarmed with crows. They never did anything to the chickens, but I never saw any hawks around.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Crows are classified as migratory birds and protected the same way as ducks, geese, hawks and eagles. However, there is an open season on them but it has strange rules--for one they can only be hunted in midweek during the season--check your local games laws for the particulars. Don't just arbitrarily shoot them as the fine is a hefty one.

I do agree, however, in re to the disease issue. This would be true of any wild birds--they can all bring unwanted diseases to a chicken flock if they have access to it. I know of at least one case where wild waterfowl introduce disease to a flock so it can happen.

 

[7L Farm]

You can legally shoot them here in Texas.

 

[Peterh005]

I hate crows!!! All they do is eat all the chicken feed, they fly in the door, eat the feed and by the time they're finished eating my feed they forget the way out so I'm left with a coop full of panicing crows trying to get out and no feed

 

[WalkingWolf]

Crows are a good bird to have around unless you have chicks or small bantams. I have lost a couple chicks in the past to crows, they will fly into the deep woods where a hawk may not. I have seen them take good sized chicks, and one time take a silkie but drop her because it could not hang on in flight. Unfortunately it broke the silkies neck when she hit the ground. But at least I do not have to worry about crows going after adult chickens. Also crows will harass tree rats(squirrels), and other rodents, especially if they get close to the nest. Some tree rats will steal chicks, and once they do it they do not stop.