Need a big mean rooster breed to fight ravens

[Chickmate]

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Someone on BYC has a Shamos that stands 32" tall.

That's a big bird, but probably not a breed that would be too happy at the North Pole.

 

[bryan99705]

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Thanks for the encouragement and am sorry that others are having the same issue. It seems as soon as a idea is applied the ravens look at it and find away around it. I watched one walk around the turkey chick area, that is double fenced and fruit tree screened, and looked over every inch of the enclosure for a way in. I guess a scoped rifle is my best way except the ravens simply watch for me to leave and then do as they will. I'm hoping they will move on to easier food once they figure out the risk of our pasture. The dog idea is reasonable and mine stays out in the pen now except he runs like a fat kid chasing a ice cream truck but at least he doesn't try to kill the birds. Thanks for the ideas and maybe the leghorn I have will toughen up enough to whoop some feather and I'll simply have to winter him thru for next year hoping he will guard the young hens and not beat them up too much. If he doesn't then maybe next year I'll try a RIR or a Giant. I do like the ides of fitting him with fighting spurs, I can imagine the look on the raven's face when he shows up with those on (kinda sound fun) but the hens may have some issues. I did look at the birds they use in Mexico for cock fighting but they appear to be mutts that are unique in their aggresion and their love of fighting.

 

[Flawedatdesign]

Well I must say this thread is a good read.

Guess it's time to add my 2 cents.

I personally would start by contacting your conservation dept. Figure out what the rules and regulations are before deciding on how to rid yourself of the ravens. While in contact with the conservation dept. I would ask them if they have a specialist in the bird field that might give you ideas on how to get rid of the ravens without harm. Then if the laws allow and all else fails feed it some high velocity bird shot.

Game birds dressing is a bad idea imo. I'm thinking the hens won't find the battle gear all that impressive.

 

[paperdragonfarm]

If the Conservation dept doesn't have any one, pm me. I interned in a wildlife rehab facility and one of the people who ran it was foremost researcher on corvidae. I'll try and put you in contact.

 

[lseynave]

I'm having problems with Ravens too. Recently they killed four of my eleven hens. At first i thought they were the scavengers that came in after the kill but their behavior since then towards my remaining seven hens indicates to me that they did the kill. I've since stopped letting my birds free range and have them in a large fenced enclosure which I'm going to have to cover soon before i lose some more. I live in north east Washington State close to the Canada border.

 

[pips&peeps]

Just had an attack on my juvenile birds I put out last night. There was a ruckus going on this morning at 5 and I went out to find a raven pecking at one of the chicks. Fortunately it flew off when it saw me and one of the older cockerels went after it.

It's mate was circling around when I got out there too. They hung around the area for about an hour, I could hear them calling to each other. So, I honed up on my shooting skills and fired off a couple rounds at some magpies. I'll be ready for them tomorrow morning, because I know they will be back.

Maybe I can leave some nice eggs out for them with a little something special inside.....

 

[centrarchid]

pips&peeps :

Just had an attack on my juvenile birds I put out last night. There was a ruckus going on this morning at 5 and I went out to find a raven pecking at one of the chicks. Fortunately it flew off when it saw me and one of the older cockerels went after it.

It's mate was circling around when I got out there too. They hung around the area for about an hour, I could hear them calling to each other. So, I honed up on my shooting skills and fired off a couple rounds at some magpies. I'll be ready for them tomorrow morning, because I know they will be back.

Maybe I can leave some nice eggs out for them with a little something special inside.....http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-think004.gif

What kind of cover do your chicks have available? If some present, are raven walking in side?​

 

[pips&peeps]

These don't have cover per say, but a lean to, to get out of the weather when it gets too hot or it rains. It is an enclosed 40X60 area just for growing out the chicks. I have around 75 of them out there right now, it's not really feasible to put netting up.

 

[centrarchid]

pips&peeps :

These don't have cover per say, but a lean to, to get out of the weather when it gets too hot or it rains. It is an enclosed 40X60 area just for growing out the chicks. I have around 75 of them out there right now, it's not really feasible to put netting up.

I am not familiar with raven hunting strategy. Placing a box or boxes made of wooden pallets chicks can get into but at least slow ravens might be an option that is much cheaper than covering run. Runs without cover are canned hunts for predators that can get in.

Somebody should try a gamecock to see if it would repell ravens. I keep gamecocks with free range chicks to keep hawks away. Hawks target chicks but get distracted by rooster that is larger (than chicks and even red-tailed hawk) and likes to attack from behind.​

 

[turbodog]

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I'm with you on that. I couldn't believe how much bigger they are from a crow till I saw one out west.
I would definitely worry about those around my chicken if we had em around here.