Flipping %*&#$(&^&@ Blue Jay!!!

[Czech's_chicks]

Had a broody hatch out and because she is in a well secured area, I figured I'd leave her there. Not even 10 minutes ago, from my front yard, I hear a chick "screaming" and I run...I mean RUN and I just don't run! I get to the back and I don't have my glasses on so all it looked like was (2) chicks outside a run I have and one of my roos about 2' away. I'm thinking the roo must be picking on them. I take a step into the gate and one of the 'chicks' starts to fly off with the other in it's feet! It was a darn blue jay!! I never, ever, ever thought they would take chicks!!! I'm absolutely shocked.

 

[redneck farmer]

Wow!!!!! I would of never guessed that a blue jay would do that

 

[bugglesmommy]

Ambitious little turd! I know blue Jay's are jerks but chick thieves?! Wow.

 

[Johnn]

What are "blue jays", i don't think we have them in the UK. Also i am shocked that your hen didn't protect it.

 

[bugglesmommy]

..." The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory..."

 

[Johnn]

..." The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory..."

If a bird that size went for my hens chicks, she would eat it!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Your broody didn't do a very good job of keeping her chicks safe :/

I have to watch my chicks around here too. I don't worry about chicks with hens, bc the broody would've seriously kicked that Jays butt, but all of my chicks brooded by me are kept in day pens with secure tops bc of the blue jays (and hawks, and owls, ugh)

Ours here are pretty big, too. No match for my adult bantam hens, but definitely a threat to chicks!

 

[BuffOrpington88]

I didn't realize that blue jays would take chicks!

 

[Angelicisi]

WoW! Whaaaaaaaa? Only read the title, that's crazy! I have 4 big blue jays here, pairs that nest in trees about 20 feet in each direction of the chicken areas! So Far they have only helped multiple times by chasing OFF predator birds and cats from the chickens (well from their territory that the chickens live in below...) I never woulda thought they'd take a chick I feed these guys seed and they scream and holler and dive bomb cats and big birds of prey keeping the chickens safe so far now I think I better keep a close eye on them! :/

I had a raven (with a bright blue sheen) take a dove chick once right outta her box, up to a tree and ate it in two bites. but ravens will eat anything easy.

 

[Angelicisi]

Ug, thus concerns me as JUST an hour ago I set my new babies out to play in the open top run...thinking I'll hear the jays if there's trouble! Time to go move um back in the smaller covered pen...