crows

Sure. Crows will steal eggs and eat baby chicks. They are very territorial and it looks like you put your chickens into their territory.

Looks to me like you need a covered run.

 

Quote:x2 on the covered run. I lost a young hen to a crow, before we covered the run. She wasn't very old, but old enough to tell she was a hen.

 

I had the opposite happen this weekend. I was outside, and my chickens where free ranging in our side yard under a huge oak tree. The crows started having a fit, screaming and carrying on. Then they started dive bombing the top of the oak tree. Out flew a red tailed hawk. The tree is so dense and high I could not see this huge bird, but the crows did, and they scared him off. The crows saved me losing a hen. I have never seen the crows attack anything that did not deserve it, like an owl near their nest, or a huge snake, over 5 feet, in my yard . I appriciate their warnings, and respect them. Now all this would change the minute one went after a hen, but right now they are on the good list.

 

I'm hoping someone has a suggestion to stop them without killing them.

Crows are a Federally protected species and it's illegal to shoot them except during hunting season with the correct license and weapons​

 

So sorry you had this experience. My experience with crows has been the opposite; three times this fall they have warned me of and then and mobbed hawks (which drove them away) that I didn't see that were actively hunting my yard.
I actually had a hummingbird drive off a cooper's hawk too, but that's a different story!

 

I agree with those who mention you need a covered run. Only allow them out for free range when you will be out in the yard. Crows are territorial and you placed a competitor into their territory. Mind you crows are also guys who fly their entire range each day. If you watch closely you will learn their schedule and know when they are checking your section of their territory. Then simply make sure your flock is within the safety of the covered run when the crows will be patrolling the area. Blue Jays are just as territorial. I've had some issue with them, but few people think of them as problem-some.

There are also items that supposedly keep crows scared off. I'd consider such devices. A "Big" Eye mounted heave-ward may help do the trick to deter them, until they come to realize its not a threat. They are quite intelligent birds. Far smarter then chickens to be honest.

 

I actually love my area crows. I grew up on a ranch in eastern Colorado and used to "caw" to the crows and they soon began perching just a few feet way and "talk" to me. After a while we became "friendly" to each other and I never had trouble with them after that. I would walk my chickens that had inprinted on me for walks thru the windrows and the crows would fly in to "chatter" to me and we'd meet at an opening in the trees every time, and I'd give the crows treats on platforms I'd set up. So I think it is a matter of how we choose to interact with them. Do we fear them or make a truce with them and then make them allies.

Perhaps your crows were desperate for food and that is why they attacked your hen. Or were your birds young chicks? If they were chicks, they need to stay in sheltered runs anyhow. Far too many predators running about (fox, cats, dogs, rats, weasels, coons, skunks, possums, hawks, owls, gulls, etc) let alone crows that will take young birds of other species to feed their own.

 

I have a murder of crows (yes, that is what they call a group of crows!) that I've been feeding for years. They hang around my yard because of it. Since I just got chickens this summer my crows have warned me of hawks, dogs and foxes.

I've never known them to attack my chickens. Actually, its just the opposite. My chickens have chased the crows from the hotdogs I throw out!

Such brave chickens