I take back everything I ever said about crows...

[windtryst]

I was out in the garden today and let my banty Ameraucanas out to keep me company and eat bugs, and heard a loud noise overhead... three crows pecking and irritating a red tailed hawk! Boy, were they loud! They kept him away, and I locked up the chicks ( yes, they are Sarah's) I am so lucky to have them. I ran down to the other coop and Roo already had the Cochin Banty girls in...shuch a good Roo. Whew! I love Crows

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Thanks for sharing! good that your roo got the girls in ok!

 

[SpottedCrow]

I love the flock that I had...I don't have them come around anymore though...but they left their cousins in blue suits.

 

[wishin4chicken]

Over the weekend, my parents and I watched two crows totaly torment an eagle. Amazing.

 

[crazyhen]

Every morning this summer I watched a hugh amt of crows fly together from their roosting area. One day I counted to over 100 but then lost count. They would all start to be noisey and then go off in groups in different directions. That pm they would all come back at the same time . Amazing. they also chase the hawks around here. I sort of like them except when its corn planting time. They will go down the row and pull up every seedling, eat the corn off and leave. I finally got smarter than them and cover it with row cover.
They are amazing birds for sure.

 

[Reinbeau]

Many birds will harass hawks, as long as the hawk isn't hungry, even small birds will do it. I pay attention to the blue jays around here, if they're screaming, there's a hawk in the vicinity.

 

[Mahonri]

If you have too many crows there is a sure fire way to get rid of them.

Soak some dried corn in water long enough for the corn to get soft.

With needle and thread take some horse tail hair that's nice and long and run it through the corn and tie it off.

Place the corn w/hair (semi-dried) in a conspicuous place where the crows will get to it.

They will go for the corn and will swallow it but won't be able to swallow the horse hair.

Within a week it will send them to the other side.

Little things you learn from AZ pioneers of many years ago.

ETA: DON'T let your chickens near the corn with the horse hair in it.... works the same for them!

 

[Reinbeau]

I'm curious - we're discussing what good watchdogs crows (and jays) can be with regards to hawks, and you want to kill them?

I'd never set out to kill a wild bird, of any sort, even a hawk. It's just wrong. Now understand if a hawk was killing my chickens I'd have a problem with it, but I still wouldn't kill it. Nevermind it's illegal, I just believe it's all part of the web of life, and it's up to me to keep my birds safe.

Not condemning those who think differently!!!

 

[Mahonri]

Crows can really mess up gardens here in AZ.

Real pests... sorry if I offended you.

 

[kinnip]

My crows went surprisingly easy on the garden. There are so many other things to eat here in the woods. They do run the hawks ragged though. I'll here a big rucous in the trees and 6 big crows will fly off escorting an even bigger hawk off the premises. They're my stalwart, ebony bouncers, just try to start something around here.