Lots of CROWS! Are they a pest to chickens?

[Papa Rooster]

No crows wont attack my chickens unless the big rooster is away from the little little chicks

 

[DTRM30]

Hmmmm- that could explain why the hawks haven't been around as much lately - never really thought of that but now that you mention it - I have seen the crows chasing the hawks.

 

[WillieBoy]

Crows are a good thing for me and my hens. I know some don't like them. I never would have vulnerable chicks running around outside,so never lost any to a crow or anything.They haven't messed wth the hens food or tried to take eggs.The crows get food scrapes from me on a feeding platform, and have done a great job of chasing off redtail hawks.My hens listen to the crows and run for cover when the crows signal a hawk is around.Crows are my allies.Yes, they are opportunist and will grab a chick if it can, however with a little common scene, crows rule the skies in a good way for me and my hens..

 

[raventearsx]

Crows, buzzards, vultures and other carrion-eating birds do not generally kill their prey.

They are the clean up crew after something has already died.

There are always exceptions, though, and I suppose a chick or an egg might be vulnerable.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone on this forum has personal knowledge of carrion birds attacking/eating chickens at any point in the life cycle.

 

[GammaPoppyLilyFlutter]

Crows are not at all pests. I call them my chickens' bodyguards- they have their own clan and spread out sentry guards all over the territory to spot any trouble. If a hawk comes, the nearest crow will dive-bomb it, cawing loudly to gather reinforcements. But, (and I've seen this before) if a hawk is too powerful for a crow or a small group of crows, they will retreat. For instance, a pair of hawks was circling the yard and one of the neighborhood crows attacked. But it got outnumbered and left to find more "warriors".

 

[edithbunker]

If you have crows thats great!!! They chase away the hawks! They do it all the time at my house, those AND blyejays!

 

[kla37]

I like our crows, they do a good job keeping the hawks at bay and sounding an alarm when they are near.

 

[bburn]

Quote:
THAT is what happens up here. I can hear the crows cawing and look out the window.....it really gets the rooster's attention and if I look up in the trees there will be a hawk sitting up there. The crows run them off. And that was all before winter. Since spring has attempted to arrive I have seen the crows and heard them but when I look for hawks there are not any. So.....I believe them to be helpful and I do believe they look for dropped feed around the pens but I have never seen them attempt to get in. The only time my flock free ranges is when I can be out there with them. Usually when the garden is almost finished we let them into it every evening for a while.

 

[desertdarlene]

Crows can and do steal eggs and take chicks/ducklings, but are not really a threat to grown birds. Like others say, they do a reasonable job of giving hawks a hard time. But, I've seen hawks attack crows, successfully, too, especially Cooper's hawks and sometimes red-tails. So, they're not 100% reliable for that. Where I live, they avoid the hawks in my area.

 

[okieinalaska]

I don't know about Crows, but we have Ravens up here and they are huge and everywhere. We have feral bunnies (once tame?) that breed every year in our neighborhood and I have seen a Raven carry one into my yard and eat it. That was my view while doing the dishes.

If the crows keep the other birds of prey away that's great but I wouldn't let my guard down. (Even though they are smaller than Ravens)