Do crows pose a threat?

[HorseFeathers]

I don't think so. Crows can actually be beneficial by warning when there's a hawk around.
I like crows. I've learned what their sounds mean, and can "talk" to them by recreating those sounds. It's fun to scare the other kids at the bus stop when they answer back!

 

[Chickie Mamma]

What is the difference between a crow and a raven? Size? Sounds? Color? I believe they are only crows here, but honestly I don't think I've ever seen a raven..

 

[PortageGirl]

Doubt you've seen them either. It's possible, but Ravens' range is more northern and western. Raven's are larger, more coarse looking with a wedge shaped head. I believe they're smarter, which makes them more dangerous, but that's my opinion. Here's a link to a description of each. First Crows. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Crow_dtl.html

Then Ravens. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Common_Raven.html#map

There is some scientific evidence that both have a sort of 'language' and that each group or flock has their own dialect. It's pretty interesting.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Do you know they are crows. Do you know the difference between a crow and a Raven ?

Crows are actually beneficial !! They will feed with your flock and the chickens pretty much ignore them. They are wonderful for keeping the hawk population at bay. Hawks hate them and stay as far away from them as possible.

The ONLY drawback I can think of is if they would have a disease they could transmit to your flock, I would think it rare.

 

[Shanay235]

Well, we have mostly crows and a few ravens where I live and here's what I can tell you. There's a murder of 5 crows who live close to my house year round. They are excellent at keeping the resident hawks away from my flock of adult ducks. Other than screaming at them when they want a taste of their food, they have never bothered my ducks even though a few of them are fairly small.

Last year, there was an injured cardinal on the ground. As I was watching him from a window, (trying to figure out whether or not to help) one of the crows swooped down, landed, and killed him before I could get out there. As soon as the other crows noticed what was going on, here they came.

So, I don't think a crow would bother a grown to mostly grown chicken but after last years incident I absolutely believe they would kill a chick if the opportunity arose. They'll definately eat eggs.

 

[Shanay235]

P.S.

My husband has also witnessed crows' killing another crow which was injured.

 

[azelgin]

We don't have crows around our area, but we do have ravens. I don't know about them killing off baby chicks. It probably is possibility. As for full sized chickens, no way. We have a family of resident ravens that wait on the barn at feeding time for hot dogs , dirty eggs or anything else we may have. When we don't feed early enough, they sit in th trees outside the bedroom and talk to us. They are very smart birds. If they land too close to the chickens, even the hens run them off. The ravens keep their distance. We don't have a hawk problem with the ravens around. They harras any hawk that circles the area until they move on.

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
Raven's are very beneficial too, for all the same reasons Crows are, Hawks are even more worried about ravens. They are scavengers and hunters too, yes they are more agressive, but mostly because they are larger and more able to be.

Both are omnivorous. Both are very opportunistic. They'll all eat meat, bird eggs (including chicken eggs of course), insects, grain, fruit, garbage, and carrion, amphibians, reptiles, mice, and nestlings, but so will Crows if given the opportunity. They are both related to Jays, who will also eat whatever is available. They'll follow predators to scavenge on leftovers, and they'll figure out where the dangerous curves on roads are and hang out there to get roadkill. (that's a bit extreme, they don't do road safety studies, they hang out there cause there's just more roadkill in the area, but they learn from the availability, and tell their friends... sort of

)

I have never seen them attack a healthy chicken, but, they might I suppose. They would probably go after a single hen more than a 'flock', but, that's why chickens seek the safety of a flock. As others have said, they will all go after chicks, but, if mama and a roo are around, it's less likely.

As far as disease, it's possible since they -are all- carrion eaters, (just like chickens!) but it's one of those things that is simply a fact of life unless you're going to keep your chickens in a bubble.

 

[muddler6]

Like some of the others have said, they don't like hawks, I use to hate having them and their constant crowing around, until the day I saw them chase and dive at a very large hawk that had been around for about an hour cruising around, probably checking out my birds. After seeing that, they are welcome to hang around and take their turn at the bird feeders and eat the stale bread I throw out in the yard for the chickens.

 

[jforsness]

I will love my crows! And so will the 3 B's!!!