:( Ravens :(

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Yeah.....but if everyone had "common sense", and if "common sense" really meant the same thing to everyone, then we wouldn't need laws in the first place......

 

[Davaroo]

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Here's a few ideas, in no particular order --

1. keep your chickens in a SECURE coop and pen. This means hardware cloth or 1/2" x 1" welded wire, NOT chicken wire.

2. bird netting over larger ranging areas.

3. air horns, pistols loaded with blanks, fire-crackers, or other loud noisemakers, especially when used around roosting sites near dusk

4. bird-proof trash receptacles

5. bird-repellant feed additives

6. various commercial bird repelling devices using either visual or sound stimuli, as for instance found here:

http://www.birdstoppers.com/site/439038/page/602546

and here:

http://www.pestproducts.com/crows.htm

What a list, all over some non-Australorp blackbirds? I'll risk the governments wrath.
Where's my .22?

 

[Lindalou2]

Oh Yes Ravens definately kill chickens and any other poultry they can get. This spring I've had at least 10 Guinea fowl killed and eaten by Ravens. Last year they pulled the heads off of six little geese that were in a wire cage. They reached in and pulled off the heads. They are just horrible to have around the yard. I also don't know how to stop them. Our Guinea fowl free range and it is very bad this year as it was warmer earlier and the birds went out of the barn. But with no leaves on the trees the guinea's are "sitting Ducks". I wonder if putting up an Owl decoy would keep them away?

 

[SkyWarrior]

Lovely, I just figured out I have a raven taking eggs from my geese and ducks.

Guess it's time to top the goose pen.

 

[Davaroo]

Lovely, I just figured out I have a raven taking eggs from my geese and ducks.

Guess it's time to top the goose pen.

Or eliminate the raven(s). Just a thought.

 

[tehbee]

do you feed your birds directly on the ground because ive had eagles and other predatory birds fly down and eat with my chickens it was very odd never attacked any of them

 

[SkyWarrior]

Or eliminate the raven(s). Just a thought.

The ravens actually came after and killed two of my pekin ducks!. Yes, they were ravens. I saw them do it.

do you feed your birds directly on the ground because ive had eagles and other predatory birds fly down and eat with my chickens it was very odd never attacked any of them

Yes, I do. Ravens are nasty, mean creatures. We're putting up deer fencing overhead to discourage them. Seems to be working.

 

[Aschenfire]

Here's an idea for anyone having issues with predatory birds... or actually, predators in general... ENCLOSE YOUR BIRDS! Yes, it's cool to let them free range but to think you should just blow away every predator for 20 miles because they are doing what predators have done for a LONG time... is I don't know. Something. Easier to cover your run, keep your animals secure, and avoid all the wringing of hands and sitting outside with your guns.

 

[akcountrygrrl]

Ravens are my absolute worst predator! It started with the full grown Pekin ducks. The ravens would hop along on the ground next to the duck and peck a hole in its back until they killed it. I put some 13 ducklings in a grow pen and came home to nothing but feet and heads left. I let my chicks out to free range while I was working outside. I ran inside to use the bathroom and came out to find that in that short 5 minutes I was in the house, the ravens had taken the heads off two of my Polish chicks. They pulled quail through 1/2" x 1" weld wire. And, last year, they ganged up on one of my kid goats and killed it. My grow pens are, and always have been, covered. My Maremma has finally decided that ravens are a threat and runs them out of the big pen where he stays with the goats. Owl decoys do not scare ravens off (did I mention that I saved a great horned owl from the ravens????). I've used bottle rockets, fire crackers, bb guns, reflective fluttery tape, and .22 to try to scare them away but they just keep coming back. I've heard that a dead raven silhouette is supposed to scare them off but my 3D raven decoy hanging upside down from a tree didn't seem to have an effect. I feel your pain and can totally sympathize. If you come up with a solution, please share it with me.

 

[Contrary]

Ravens are revenue killers to our pastured poultry operation. They love to fly off with chickens eggs in their mouth. The only thing that keeps them away is the Great Pyrenees LGD.