We have a LOT of crows in our neighborhood. some of our neighbors actually feed them. This morning,one of our 17 week olds, Lassy flew up on to the fence. A crow came down to sit next to her, and they pecked each other! the crow flew away. Today, I have noticed that the crows are watching the chicks, and they are sitting over them when they eat. This is the first time the crows have really came into our yard, since we got the chicks. Should we be worried? Thanks! Also, the crows are about the same size as the chicks. And, is there any ways to keep them away?
I had this same thing happen to me, I just noticed one day crows showed up and found them all around my coop every time I went to refill their food and water. I posted here and people replied that crows aren't a threat and they are actually a good thing because they will keep hawks at bay. I have no idea myself just information I'm relaying. I've never had problems with crows hurting them but mine are fairly well protected.
What you need to do is get some hawks for them to chase I'm in the country, and I appreciate the crows - they are great warning bells for hawks. I'm sure if a crow was starving, it would go after a chick (as about any starving animal would). But unless your little bird picks a fight with one, I think it would be a rare case to have a crow actually go after your chicks.
I would imagine the crows wouldn't be too much of a threat to your chicks if they're the same size. Check out the "crows: friends or foes" thread. It's on the first page of the Predators and Pests section right now.
Not good, they are testing the water, crows are smart and opportunist, here in Ca. they have acutely killed and chased out other birds. I once saw a crow standing on a wood fence post with another bird pined under it and he was eating it, and it was still alive. So scare them off the best you can and try to ask your neighbors not to feed them.And we wont even go into the disease and mites they can be giving your girls.
Yea, crows are great for keeping hawks away. However, mine find every way to get to the nesting boxes and steal eggs. They sometimes take 8-10 a day! And yes, they can open their mouth and carry the egg away. If anyone wants to keep crows around, just put some eggs out where they can see them!
When we have chicks out and about, crows get hit, immediately. When no chicks are out, fall, winter, and early spring, it is live and let live. They are very effective predators and would not hesitate to take a poult or chick.
I have a family of crows that live on the property. I love them.. each year I watch to see how many they have hatched out and when the young get mature, how they leave the mob to go for their own territory.. I've never had an bad experience with them and my chickens,, they are fantastic warning systems for predators, they are very territorial so nothing enters that they don't know about and run off if necessary.. they will eat some of the feed, some time. the chickens don't seam to care and they don't eat much. they love the flock blocks with seeds of course.. hope all goes well with you mob of crows... their fun to watch like chickens they each have very different personalities . and yes I believe that chickens have personalities... blessed be )O( Pink
I did see once a flock of crows wear out a pair of owls to get at the nest of babies. They ate all of them. So that tells me they will, if no other way, gang up on the chicks.
