Will Crows kill chickens?

[Aerliss]

Crows are super opportunistic. If they see a chance for an easy meal they'll go for it. They may just be curious about the new things in the neighbourhood, rather than actively looking at your chicks as food. But that doesn't mean they won't think "hmm, that looks like it might a quick dinner".

However, crows are not birds of prey.
They're not very good hunters, and not good at carrying large carcasses in their claws, just their beaks. They take tiny chicks and fledglings because they're easy to grab. So while it's not outside the realms of possibility that they'd kill a smallish chicken, it's not hugely likely.

Still, always better safe than sorry, keep them secured when you can't be around until they're big enough that a crow will look at it as too much effort.

 

[Stepnout]

I work at an oil refinery. In among the many towers and pipe racks we have pigeons. we also have ravens. Ravens are much bigger, i'll put a post bellow. Many times at work we have witnessed ravens striking pigeons in mid flight knocking them to the ground. At that point it's over for the pigeon. It's nature's way. Protection of hens is really up to us.

here is the link comparing crows to ravens
http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/crow_vs_raven.html

 

[kwhites634]

I can’t speak about crows killing chickens. I used to have bob white. We used to have pointing dog competitions on released bob white quail. ( not shoot to retrieve just live flush, blank guns)
Every field trial both crows and ravens would kill many of the bob whites.
So I would vote crows will 100% try and kill chicks.
I also think a crow would not go after a full grown hen or rooster. Not sure about bantams, I’m still a chicken noob as I will be picking up my chicks May 25 or 26
Cant wait
Stepnout

Ex field trialer here; retired after 40+ years of being on a horse, chasing dogs that are chasing birds that aren't chasing anything. I kept bobwhites in recall pens & let them out frequently to build their flight muscles. Only once did I ever have a predatory bird bother one, & it missed.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Crows will eat your chicks.
( I am a zoologist )
See this

 

[MageofMist]

I have crows, magpies and ravens in my area and birds of prey are fairly uncommon, I have spotted two on occasion, but they always get scolded and harassed when they get too close to the yard, even though I don't see a corvid nest nearby.

Also... The corvids around here are treated by me with floater quail eggs and leftover scraps on occasion, so this might be why, but they have never bothered my chickens or the chicks despite there being so many, and also oddly don't bother with the chicken eggs the hens sometimes lay outside.

 

[Stepnout]

Ex field trialer here; retired after 40+ years of being on a horse, chasing dogs that are chasing birds that aren't chasing anything. I kept bobwhites in recall pens & let them out frequently to build their flight muscles. Only once did I ever have a predatory bird bother one, & it missed.

Hey nice to hear from an EX trialer. I used to keep my quail in a recall pen as well. I too exercised my quail, a few out at a time. They are a great bird to have around the property. Unfortunately the birds we purchased for our trials might not have been flight conditioned enough.
I had 2 pups from "Dunn's Fearless Bud" and an Elhew, Gunsmoke cross and a few others. You might remember those lines.
PS: I see you are from Maryland, did you ever hear of Richie Frisella(hope I got the name right)? I think he was from down that way.

 

[kwhites634]

Hey nice to hear from an EX trialer. I used to keep my quail in a recall pen as well. I too exercised my quail, a few out at a time. They are a great bird to have around the property. Unfortunately the birds we purchased for our trials might not have been flight conditioned enough.
I had 2 pups from "Dunn's Fearless Bud" and an Elhew, Gunsmoke cross and a few others. You might remember those lines.
PS: I see you are from Maryland, did you ever hear of Richie Frisella(hope I got the name right)? I think he was from down that way.

I don't want to hijack the lady's thread; PM me & we can swap lies there

 

[Wolfsbane]

I have wild crows who walk around with my grazing ducks and chickens, so far they have never attacked they just seem to ignore them, I let them eat the chicken corn because they scare away the hawks and owls who like to kill my hens.

It seems a lot of you have had problems with them but perhaps my chickens are just too big to look like an easy meal for them, or they are just not hungry enough for that with the constant supply of road-kill and chicken feed available.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Corvidae are extremely opportunistic. They have no qualms about taking small chicks or eggs, generally, but probably what you're seeing is the other aspect of that opportunism; they see other birds out foraging, so they come to see what food they've found. If one bird finds food, you can bet there's a corvid around that wants to know if it's good. They're exceptionally intelligent birds, with great problem-solving skills. Ravens in particular, but crows and others in the corvid family as well. I have a raven around here who has figured out that my Aussie mix hates crows and ravens... I have no idea WHY she hates them, honestly. That raven gets entirely too much fun out of taunting her. It lands on a power line at the edge of the property, then swings around upside down from it, flapping, cat-calling at her, and generally driving her nuts.

 

[SueKiW]

Thanks so much I guess I will keep them around then and great answer.

Crows just took 2 of my 2 month old chickens.