Crows! :\

[Bikerschick]

We don't have crows. We have grackles. Way smaller than a crow, and I've never seen them pay any mind to the hawks or anything else for that matter.
They are so loud you cant hear yourself think, they hang out in huge swarms, and they steal any food they can see.
The chickens will try to chase them off, or peck at them... but it looks like a pointless battle.

I've taken to using my daughter's pellet gun on them. This method has excellent results. And the chickens just love all the excitement of a grackle falling out of a tree.
(Destroyer pellets and decent aim required.)

Sorry PETA... but it's my yard.

#flyingrats

 

[Mrwinchester]

I don't mind crows, but then again they have never attempted to compete w/ my chickens for scraps or food. On occasion several will roost up in the perimeter trees and do their kaw thing.

Crows are super intelligent. As others have mentioned, they love to chase hawks, can recognize the good and bad people in their environment, and have been known to exhibit behavior akin to mourning when one of their comrades dies.

My country boy neighbor said crows will steer clear of your garden and property if you hang a dead crow in plain view of the area in question. While I personally don't advocate killing a crow for no apparent reason, if you happen to stumble across a dead one, give it a try.

crows are known to carry the west Nile virus, don't think id be touching one let alone hang it on a fence post. lol Ya OK I'm a germafobe

 

[thedragonlady]

crows are known to carry the west Nile virus, don't think id be touching one let alone hang it on a fence post. lol Ya OK I'm a germafobe

You won't catch West Nile picking up a dead crow, or Jay. You have to be bitten by a mosquito. Ask me how I know.....Been there, done that.

 

[ken-t]

I have Ravins that was stealing my turkey eggs. I put up a house for house martins. the Ravins are still around but they dont come
in so close.

 

[Mrwinchester]

You won't catch West Nile picking up a dead crow, or Jay. You have to be bitten by a mosquito. Ask me how I know.....Been there, done that.

dragonlady i just wanted to confirm my suspicions, it is posable to contract West Nile virus from handling specimens . Check out this link.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/wn-no/gen-eng.php#a4

I'm sorry to here you contracted the virus, I built a bat box this winter to help keep the mosquito's in check.

 

[thedragonlady]

dragonlady i just wanted to confirm my suspicions, it is posable to contract West Nile virus from handling specimens . Check out this link.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/wn-no/gen-eng.php#a4

I'm sorry to here you contracted the virus, I built a bat box this winter to help keep the mosquito's in check.

There must be a transfer of blood for infection from West Nile, either from a mosquito, or a needle stick in a lab while posting a specimen.

 

[Mrwinchester]

There must be a transfer of blood for infection from West Nile, either from a mosquito, or a needle stick in a lab while posting a specimen.

correct..

 

[galanie]

We don't have crows. We have grackles. Way smaller than a crow, and I've never seen them pay any mind to the hawks or anything else for that matter.
They are so loud you cant hear yourself think, they hang out in huge swarms, and they steal any food they can see.
The chickens will try to chase them off, or peck at them... but it looks like a pointless battle.

I've taken to using my daughter's pellet gun on them. This method has excellent results. And the chickens just love all the excitement of a grackle falling out of a tree.
(Destroyer pellets and decent aim required.) 

Sorry PETA... but it's my yard.

[COLOR=696969]#flyingrats[/COLOR]

Good for you! Having grown up in south Texas I can't stand grackles! Yes, loud, loud loud and useless birds I think. I'd rather encourage mockingbirds, Jays, etc. and send grackles packing.

 

[CibolaChooks]

Can anyone get me some crows eggs. I have found nest near my place but the trees are way to tall to get to the nest. can anyone get some for me. I would love to have my own pet crows, ive seen them harassing the Hawks and falcons. Plus i love geese for watch animals but flying watch crows would be sweet.

 

[Triple Willow]

Can anyone get me some crows eggs. I have found nest near my place but the trees are way to tall to get to the nest. can anyone get some for me. I would love to have my own pet crows, ive seen them harassing the Hawks and falcons. Plus i love geese for watch animals but flying watch crows would be sweet.

That would be pretty cool. lol There are crows that nest on my place but not nearly close enough. I bought a "crow call" today. It's just like a duck call but for crows. I hope I can learn to use it! I want these to start coming to the house to keep the resident hawk away. But oh yeah, a pet crow or two would be nice!

I have noticed the resident turkey vultures out with their young ones, I guess teaching them to hunt. I love to watch those things. They just soar like there is nothing to it, beautiful to watch.