Has anyone ever seen or heard of crows defending chickens or turkeys?

[lisaequine1]

About a week ago my kids and I were outside playing with all of our critters, the chickens were free ranging as usual and we heard our resident crows making a huge fuss in the tree line at the border of our yard. We didn't think much of it at the time, but about twenty minutes later we found that one of our hens had apparently been grabbed by something because all that remained of her was a lot of feathers. This happened in the very area where we heard the crows, I wish that I would have checked it out when we heard them. A couple of days ago, we were working in the barn when once again we hear the crows yelling. I look towards the woods where they are and see them fly across our 11 acre field to the opposite side tree line. Just seconds later my daughters start yelling and running towards the same area to chase away none other than a FOX that is stalking our chickens! Then, just yesterday, once again we are out in the barn, hear the crows yelling, look in their direction, and see the fox attacking a wild turkey hen's babies! The mother turkey was flogging the fox, trying to save her babies, but the CROWS were dive bombing the fox! One crow seemed to even be holding on to the fox. We ran the fox off, but it was too late for the little baby turkeys. We found at least one dead laying there. We went back to the barn quickly in case the mother turkey wanted to come back to find her babies, maybe they were hiding in the tall grass. We also figured that the fox would be back to claim it's prize. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later we heard the crows sounding the alarm again and watched the fox come grab the dead poult. It was sad as we watched the mother come back later looking for any survivors. She found none.

Anyway, has anyone else ever known crows to defend poultry? Maybe they just don't want the fox hunting in their territory, but it sure seems as though they are trying to help the chickens and the wild turkey out. I have a new found respect and admiration for them no matter what their reasoning is.

 

[chickenfever417]

My father used to say that crows were one of the smartest birds alive. As a young man he found an injured crow that he kept as a pet.

Love this story and the memories of my father

LOL


but I am of no use to your question. My guess is that they are protecting their area not "necessarily" the turkey but who knows????

But pretty BA if you ask me



Thanks for sharing!!

 

[chfite]

If the crows are around and a hawk comes visiting, they will run it off. I don't think that they are protecting my chickens so much as they are repelling the hawk.

Chris

 

[realsis]

I always heard crows go after chickens! Who knows? Likely they are protecting their territory's not the poultry.

 

[chooks4life]

I freeranged hundreds of chooks in open paddock area for years before one got taken by a hawk, thankfully only a very bodgy juvenile male I was going to eat anyway. This was despite seeing several species of hawks and eagles on a weekly basis. Anyway, as soon as it made its kill, it just stood on the corpse; one of my female turkeys charged it while all the rest of my poultry fled into the coops (it wasn't her baby obviously but turkeys can be like that... My hens are the first to attack predators too)... It raised its wings aggressively and she too fled. The chook was dead on impact.

The hawk took off when I came running, and from the moment it got back in the air it was in deep poopie. Kookaburras, crows, mynas, willy wagtails, and a whole bunch of other enraged birds all ganged up on it and chased it about 500 metres or so before managing to force it to land in a tree. It still had its kill. But they weren't going to let it go. It gave up, dropped the kill, and made its escape, being harassed all the way. I retrieved the corpse and that was the first and last time I lost a chook to a bird of prey.

I think in circumstances like this, most birds are smart enough to know they combined can drive out a common enemy, and they're willing to temporarily band together with their usual foes to make it happen.

 

[lisaequine1]

I have heard of crows taking chicks. I've never had any trouble with that, only hawks, which the crows have done a fantastic job of chasing all of them away now. I see the crows out close to my chickens all the time, I think they like getting their scraps. So maybe they have a sort of symbiotic relationship........?? If they were only protecting their territory, why would they have been attacking the fox only when it was going after the turkey? Why wouldn't they harass it as soon as they saw it until it was gone like they do the hawks? All I know for sure is that I am thankful for their presence for alerting us to the fox coming. Now, what to do about the fox????

 

[Tonkasmum]

As far as live ones, no idea. But when I picked up my Polish bay, the guy and I got to talking and he'd had a number of chickens killed by hawks. He said that putting up a fake crow kept the hawks away. Thinking I will try it next year. Of course, then Fajita will scream at the FAKE predator...

 

[Mehjr10]

I have heard of crows taking chicks.  I've never had any trouble with that, only hawks, which the crows have done a fantastic job of chasing all of them away now.  I see the crows out close to my chickens all the time, I think they like getting their scraps.  So maybe they have a sort of symbiotic relationship........??  If they were only protecting their territory, why would they have been attacking the fox only when it was going after the turkey?  Why wouldn't they harass it as soon as they saw it until it was gone like they do the hawks?  All I know for sure is that I am thankful for their presence for alerting us to the fox coming.  Now, what to do about the fox????

 

You will need to remove him at this point, he will be back.

 

[mothergooz]

Yes, crows are great protectors of other birds and as far as I have seen in the wild they are the police officers of the bird world.


About a week ago, a mallard mom and her three ducklings were attacked by a Red Tailed Hawk. The Hawk came out of nowhere and went straight for the ducklings. Mom reached up and bit him on the tail as he swooped down and tried to drown him. Yes, drown him by dragging him repeatedly under the water! Bottom line is the hawk managed to wiggle himself out of her grip. She let out a series of cries, warning calls, that there was a prediator in the area. Out of nowhere, two big black crows swooped down and and began chasing him in the air and eventually out of the area.

Yes, the crows did answer her cries. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself.

 

[pepsmomma]

I lost my favorite rooster a week ago to a very large red tailed hawk. It snapped the roosters neck. Four crows alerted us, not the chickens. My husband ran outside and the hawk was sitting in the driveway, it took a moment to get off the ground it was so big. The crows chased it off. I'm worried I have a hawk in the area that likes chickens! The kill was so quick. Also worried about my 5 little dogs. The rooster was their size