Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: themagicaltoad1 on June 13, 2009, 21:48

Title: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on June 13, 2009, 21:48
This was something I hadn't anticipated when I got my bantam chicks last week. I let them out of their run into the garden for a while several times during the course of the day. Yesterday I noticed a crow swooping low over the garden, and today my neighbour said there were 2 dive bombing the chicks. My girls are 13 wks and not very big, they flatten themselves on the ground when they see the crows. Has anyone else had this problem and what can I do about it?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Ice on June 13, 2009, 21:51
My brother has chickens and the crows are a real problem.  They pick up and fly away with the eggs.  Tying some wires high above the run might deter them.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: woodside farm on June 13, 2009, 21:53
I had this problem with my chicks, solved by putting a Large Buff Orpington cockerel in with them.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on June 13, 2009, 22:01
The run is enclosed but very small which is why I like to let them have the freedom of the garden for part of the day and Unfortunately one of my neighbours has made it very clear he will complain if I get a cockerel. Is there any risk the crows would carry off the chicks?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on June 13, 2009, 22:02
I've lost 2 ducklings to magpies and I know others have lost chicks and bantams to crows so they can be a real menace. I don't leave mine out without a net covering until they are large enough not to be taken (which is almost fully grown as I am paranoid!).
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on June 13, 2009, 22:05
Oh ok, that's a real worry. I'll just have to get my kids to play a new game called "scarecrows" whenever the chicks are out.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on June 13, 2009, 22:08
I bought a moveable rabbit run thing with a net covering that worked really well and meant I could stop worrying about them so much.

This is what I got.

http://www.petsathome.com/find/category-is-6+small+pets/category-is-6C+Cages/product-is-5473

It is only about a metre square but I got 2 which gives you 4 metres square once they are all linked together. Now they don't need it the panels are really useful as barriers to protect plants and veg.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on June 13, 2009, 22:13
I can't believe these things have caused me so many worries already and I've only had them a week! I feel like a new father again, in at the deep end, haven't really got a clue and worrying all the time.  :(
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on June 13, 2009, 22:18
It does get easier!

Just keep asking questions and reading up and in no time you will know more about chickens than you ever thought possible! You have already dodged losing chicks to crows now you know about it and can protect them and that was a lesson I learnt the hard way.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: dawn 11 on June 14, 2009, 14:17
i had a crow attacking chicks   and put up a wire with our old dvd s  on it runs over the garden      up to now its kept them away
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 14, 2009, 19:42
Lost a duckling in the week to a crow attack. They will kill and eat chicks.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: too many girls on June 14, 2009, 19:46
Lost a duckling in the week to a crow attack. They will kill and eat chicks. The crows were trying to eat the duckling alive.

too much detail.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 14, 2009, 19:53
Edited for the Walt Disney fans.....
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: peapod on June 14, 2009, 20:41
Edited for the Walt Disney fans.....
Or maybe the kids that read this too?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 14, 2009, 23:35
Edited for the Walt Disney fans.....
Or maybe the kids that read this too?

Well with a title like Crows attacking chickens, unless they were wading in with gladioli the title inferred a certain degree of unpleasentness no?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: too many girls on June 14, 2009, 23:38
Edited for the Walt Disney fans.....
Or maybe the kids that read this too?

Well with a title like Crows attacking chickens, unless they were wading in with gladioli the title inferred a certain degree of unpleasentness no?


not quite as unpleasant as you made it.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 14, 2009, 23:45
/yawns.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 15, 2009, 08:16
Try to keep your replies suitable to a family forum please Hensington.

If we make you yawn please go and frequent somewhere else !
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 15, 2009, 17:40
I was referring to the fact that it was being dragged up constantly. If it offended them then surely the ebst thing to do was read a different thread ratehr than harp on and on. I edited my post within minutes of the original complaint. Thanks to TMG quoting my post a lot more people have seen it.

If the complaint was about my post then surely someone should of edited TMG's quote?

Or is this more of a personality clash :)
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 15, 2009, 17:46

Or is this more of a personality clash :)

Yours or ours dear ?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 15, 2009, 17:48
Both :)
I'm a bit too lively for this place it seems. Need to curb my enthusiasm.
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 15, 2009, 17:49
I don't think we'd call it lively dear  ::)
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Hensington on June 15, 2009, 17:51
Rude? Arrogant?
Title: Re: crows attacking chickens.
Post by: Ice on June 15, 2009, 18:01
I think this topic has come to a logical conclusion.