Leghorn started laying outside the run, crows eating the eggs

[Billy Hill]

I let my girls free-range most days and yesterday before I let them out I saw a crow carrying something white, then dropped it and started eating it, but he was tipping his head back to swallow, just like birds do when they are drinking water. Made me wonder so I went to investigate and sure enough it was an egg.

Typically I enjoy having the crows hanging out in my yard because they keep the red-tail hawks away from my girls when my labradork isn't outside.

But now that the leghorn is in the habit of laying in the yard instead of the coop I'm kind of mad at the crows for stealing my breakfast!

I haven't let the girls out in a couple of days now and probably won't for a while. Question is, should I start actively keeping the crows out of the yard now that they know they can get eggs?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Crows are pretty smart, how do you plan on keeping them out? A few years ago one snatched a single chick, it came back three years in a row at the same time each spring and flew around the yard for a few weeks before moving on. You will have better luck getting the hen to lay in your boxes I think. Put some ceramic eggs in them and keep your hens locked for a few weeks.

 

[Billy Hill]

Crows are pretty smart, how do you plan on keeping them out?

Pellet gun. Same thing I use on the squirrels. I'm counting on them being smart enough after one or two are dismissed that the rest will stay away. Worked for my neighbor who's dog caught one last year. The whole clan was there to watch it get mauled by the dog and now they stay out of his yard. I really don't want to go down that road though.

I don't like keeping the girls locked up because I've only got one of those portable tractor runs that's 3' x 8'. And they are really spoiled and make a lot of noise if I don't let them out.

For now I guess I'll just let them out an hour or two before sunset so they'll be more inclined to lay in the coop. And I'll wait 'til after the leghorn does her business for the day. Right now she's laying some time between noon and 4:00 and I think that time will be moving closer to morning each day so should work great for a few weeks.