Hawks and crows

[BarnGoddess01]

One of my hens was attacked by a hawk on Christmas Eve. My two roosters were useless. I did manage to save my hen from the hawk but no thanks to them. I've been nervous about free-ranging my birds ever since. I've been reading that a lot of folks say crows help so I was delighted to see a pair nesting in the maple tree between the house and the coop - central over the chickens' preferred range. Well, today, it happened. I looked outside and saw hens scattering for cover, heads are cocked off sideways and looking upwards. Next thing I know -- I see the crows escorting the hawk out of the area!

Brilliant.

 

[True Grit]

Yay! I'm so happy to hear this. I've been feeding the crows all winter and they sometimes greet me in the morning when I'm out with the chickens. I can't tell if there is a nest handy but I'm hoping..

 

[emrys]

One morning the crows woke me with their noise. A hawk was patiently sitting in an oak tree beside my house. It paid the crows no mind at all. The hawk flew away only after I went outside and told it the welcome mat was in the trash.

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

The crows may harrass a hawk, but they wont run it off of a food source for long

 

[Chickmate]

A large flock of crows frequents the woods behind my house and I see them often in my front yard. We also have many hawks in the area. Yesterday I saw a hawk fly over the back yard and seconds later when it was over the woods the crows erupted and chased it off. They may not chase them off for good, but I'll take any help I can get! I've read that some people actually throw extra or old eggs out for them to eat to keep them around. Even if one snuck into the hen house and stole an egg from time to time, I would rather have the crows than the hawks!

 

[mywifewasonherenowiamalso]

crows steal baby birds and chicks too if they have a chance

 

[Nambroth]

Crows will take baby chicks and eggs, that is true.
So will nearly every other living creature outside! Even squirrels love eggs.

Crows can't keep a hawk off of a prey source forever that is also true, but we can enjoy the benefits of their hawk escort system and early warning at the least. I feel that even for the warning alone they are well worth having around.

 

[hunter109]

well call the local game warden and see what they suggest to do about the hawk for the crows there is a hunting season here in ohio for them

 

[mywifewasonherenowiamalso]

indiana too unless they get a chick or get in the garden, then you protect your property

 

[MeowCluckBark]

We have lots of birds of prey in this area. I have had a ton of wild birds in my pasture and nearby my house. Lots of crows, magpies, doves, robins, mallards, finches, sparrows, etc. They all seem pretty comfortable where they are so I'm just putting out a wild bird block outside my run for them to keep coming. I haven't seen any hawks or owls in my immediate area, but I know that kestrels are the type that frequent in town vs the larger hawks that are more common farther south near the open desert areas.

If it helps, then great! Don't trust them too much. I wouldn't want them intermingling with my flock either.