Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Our mated pair of Ravens have returned to last year's nesting site!

I saw one of them flying up from the front garden, heading towards the back end of our property, with a big beak full of chicken feathers from the compost pile yesterday. These guys have no love for birds of prey when they're nesting. They're a great deterrent to the pests. If you have the chance to encourage their residency, by all means, DO IT!!

One word of caution regarding Raven's however: While they will not bother your adult birds, free ranging chicks are another matter entirely. So, if you have young chicks on the ground with their mama, keep a close eye on them until they're at least 12 weeks of age. Otherwise, they're fair game in the eyes of the Ravens.

I'm so happy to see our pair. Especially since a mated pair of Bald Eagles has taken up housekeeping on the cell phone tower less than a quarter mile away.

Do you mean Crows? Because we have no shortage of crows here. Though none nesting nearby. It might be a good thing if there were. I don't usually have chicks out and about.

 

[Serrin]

Tim, crows, ravens and black birds are all in the Corvid family. And they all, without exception [to the best of my knowledge] have a deep and abiding hatred of raptors! Even outside of the nesting season, you'll rarely see a Corvid tolerate the presence of a raptor, be they large, small or anywhere in between.

But for those who aren't so blessed as to have these little aerial defenders about, fear not. I've also seen various species of small sparrows harass the living bejeebers out of raptors. They have no concept of their true size, nor the imminent threat a bird of prey presents to them. Kind of like little dogs.

It's all part of their instincts to protect their young. We can easily enlist their aid by simply putting up bird houses of every size and type imaginable.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Tim, crows, ravens and black birds are all in the Corvid family. And they all, without exception [to the best of my knowledge] have a deep and abiding hatred of raptors! Even outside of the nesting season, you'll rarely see a Corvid tolerate the presence of a raptor, be they large, small or anywhere in between.

But for those who aren't so blessed as to have these little aerial defenders about, fear not. I've also seen various species of small sparrows harass the living bejeebers out of raptors. They have no concept of their true size, nor the imminent threat a bird of prey presents to them. Kind of like little dogs.

It's all part of their instincts to protect their young. We can easily enlist their aid by simply putting up bird houses of every size and type imaginable.

Yes here besides the crows (which I tell my neighbors to not shoot at please) the Mockingbirds absolutely will torture the crap out of these huge Red-tails and I laugh and root them on too, to tear the bad-@$$ SOBs up.

Jeff

 

[peepacheep]

Our nesting pair of ravens returned last week. They have been making low passing glides over the house carrying beakfuls of what I am guessing is nesting materials. A very good sign the nest site is close by. The day they returned an immature bald eagle perched about 30 yards form our kitchen window while we were eating lunch. Needless to saw the chicken pen facing the eagle was empty. They zipped into the coop. Have not seen the eagle since the ravens returned but saw 2 buzzards and a hummingbird yesterday. A sign spring has sprung. Speaking of little birds harassing raptors our Stellar jays do a great mimic of a redtail hawk scream. Scares the heck out of the chickens but when a red tail is spotted the jays go deep into the blackberry brush and pitch a raptor like screaming fit. The redtail over head does not stick around to see whose territory it has strayed into. Corvids are way smart.

 

[seminolewind]

Maybe I'm pretty well off living in "Pigeonville". This area is well known for the hundreds of people who live here a race pigeons. They let them out to exercise.

 

[rancher hicks]

check

 

[wekiva bird]

We hatch out 14 Buff Orp.

Now the Delaware are in the bator now.

 

[Serrin]

Congrats Robin. Hope ya post some pictures of both orps and Dels, soon! It's a must you know!

 

[rancher hicks]

Loaded up the bator again. Dels, BR's, CR's, BM's and EE's.

Traded a bunch from last time for ten bags of horse manure. Delivered to me.

(when I think of all the crap I've had in my life and now I'm trading chicks for more crap..........................)

 

[wekiva bird]

Congrats Robin. Hope ya post some pictures of both orps and Dels, soon! It's a must you know!

I will try, i'm not good with the photos.