Possible crow attack?

[Thrilled Chicken Mama]

I lost one of my 10 week old chicks (pullet) yesterday to what I assume was a crow attack? They just started free ranging some with the 5 adult hens I integrated them with and I was inside preparing lunch. I noticed 2 or 3 crows flying around onto the ground in my backyard but didn’t get super worried because I thought the babies had gotten big enough not to be bothered by them. Plus, the spot they were flying down to was not inside my fenced free range space.
A couple hours later I went out and one of my 11 babies was missing. Looked everywhere and never found her. I also never found any trace of an actual attack; no feathers anywhere, no wounded bird.
Is it safe to assume the crows did get her? Even if I saw no evidence of an actual attack?
I’m so sad and will not free range them again without my direct supervision, but I hate I had to learn that the hard way. I literally cry and feel nauseous thinking about her being brutally attacked and I wasn’t there to protect her. Of my 11, she was one of the main two that are attached to me.

 

[GodLovesU]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Thrilled Chicken Mama]

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you so much. So do you think that crows will actually get chickens. I get mixed info on it when I read. Sometimes I read that they don’t really bother chickens, but then other times I read that they will when they are small. I thought they were big enough now but I guess the one that is missing might be small enough? I am just shocked there were no feathers or any other signs of an attack.
She never turned up either (I was so hoping I would find her) so I guess that’s what happened? I don’t know if any other day predators that could have gotten her.

Thanks again for responding and for your condolences.

 

[WingItRanch]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. I know crows can go after babies but since yours were 11 weeks old, I'm slightly more skeptical. I think they old grab little chicks and eggs.

I have both hawks and crows. The crows will scare away the hawks and they're pretty territorial so I encourage them.

Since this sounds like it happened during daylight, my first guess would be a hawk. Then maybe fox or dog. But a hawk seems most common predator.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I lost one of my 10 week old chicks (pullet) yesterday to what I assume was a crow attack? They just started free ranging some with the 5 adult hens I integrated them with and I was inside preparing lunch. I noticed 2 or 3 crows flying around onto the ground in my backyard but didn’t get super worried because I thought the babies had gotten big enough not to be bothered by them. Plus, the spot they were flying down to was not inside my fenced free range space.
A couple hours later I went out and one of my 11 babies was missing. Looked everywhere and never found her. I also never found any trace of an actual attack; no feathers anywhere, no wounded bird.
Is it safe to assume the crows did get her? Even if I saw no evidence of an actual attack?
I’m so sad and will not free range them again without my direct supervision, but I hate I had to learn that the hard way. I literally cry and feel nauseous thinking about her being brutally attacked and I wasn’t there to protect her. Of my 11, she was one of the main two that are attached to me.

So sorry for your loss. It's so hard to lose them to a predator.

 

[SamLockwood]

Unless they're bantams most hawks aren't strong enough to just fly away with pullets that size, let alone crows. They'll drag them to a sheltered spot and eat them on site. They'll start eating the head and neck, then eat the heart if they have time, and leave the rest of the carcass behind.

Crows usually target small (less than 4 weeks old) chicks or they'll eat eggs.

If your birds are disappearing without a trace one at a time, your culprit is either an eagle or a ground predator like a coyote, bobcat, or feral dog. Bobcats in particular are extremely agile and can climb rapidly and flat-out leap over 4 to 5 foot barriers.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agree, a crow does not have the right kind of feet to carry prey away, like the talons of a hawk, their feet are flat like those of a chicken. So whatever got your chick and carried it off without a trace, it was not a crow. I vote hawk.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Agree, a crow does not have the right kind of feet to carry prey away, like the talons of a hawk, their feet are flat like those of a chicken. So whatever got your chick and carried it off without a trace, it was not a crow. I vote hawk.

We have eagles where I am along with hawks. If there are eagles where this happened it could have easily been taken by one of them. They are very strong and could get it with no problem.

 

[McChooky]

Other than seeing some crows take flight and fly out of my yard where my chickens were free ranging (and my roosters were sounding alerts) I never saw anything that could have taken them.Nonetheless 2 of my girls were missing.Most likely they were Ravens and not crows.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Other than seeing some crows take flight and fly out of my yard where my chickens were free ranging (and my roosters were sounding alerts) I never saw anything that could have taken them.Nonetheless 2 of my girls were missing.Most likely they were Ravens and not crows.

I can't even see a Raven having a big enough beak and they don't have talons to carry anything that big off. I pray that the rest of your flock stays safe.