Do crows eat chicks?

[JenniferC]

I have been having a battle against crows at my house lately. They are pulling up all kinds of stuff in my garden. They wouldn't attack a small chicken, would they? We have bald eagles nearby, and the crows will even gang up on them. (Not to eat them, obviously, but to fight over food.)

Am I going to have to keep my chickens cooped rather than free range so as to avoid the crows going after their food?

 

[1acrefarm]

Crows are your friend when it comes to chickens. Crows attack predator type birds such as hawks. It is the eagles and hawks you have to watch around chickens not crows.

 

[Katy]

Crows will eat young birds so I wouldn't trust them around my chicks.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Crows are scavengers and opportunist. They rarely kill for their food. They like to raid nests and eat roadkill, easy meals. I have many crows around here, I live on a busy road so lots of opportunity for easy meals. They have never been a problem.

 

[hinkjc]

I agree with Katy. Crows and Blue Jays eat baby birds right out of the nest here. I would watch any baby chicks closely.

Crows do also help fend off hawks, so they have their benefits as well and typically do not bother full grown chickens.

Jody

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
I agree... some crows have the taste of small birds in them, but not all. Know someone in Seattle who said they would have lost all their chicks though a temp outdoor cage had the holes been big enough for crows to get their beaks though. Said there was a small flock trying to pick the chicks out by trying to bend the wires!!!

 

[RobinEgg]

I agree with extra protection from crows! why take the chance with babies.

 

[speckledhen]

I love crows and blue jays for chasing off hawks, but I wouldn't trust them around young chicks. They will eat those if they get the chance.

 

[1acrefarm]

I never knew crows ate chicks. I always wait until the crows come around to let my chicks out. These crows around here seem to ignore the chickens totally. I have seen the crows and jays chase the occasional cat but never a chicken. I guess crows are one more thing to add to the list to watch for.

 

[Cetawin]

Crows are opportunist...if a little baby bird is in a nest all alone....it is gotcha. They rarely kill for food, they steal food from other birds and animals.

They are a bottom feeder in the bird world. I would still be cautious if they are little chicks.