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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.
