Attracting crows for protection

[ChickenWaddle]

We've had five chickens going on three years. We do have hawks in the area. The chickens roost at night inside a coop that is inside and 10' x 10' dog pen. We have 1" wire around the sides and on top of the pen. We also covered the pen so it stays somewhat dry.

We have hawks in the area and I was becoming concerned because the chickens free range about 6 hours a day.

Some mice and even a few rats started getting into the pen area, so I started trapping them. While doing so I came up with the idea of placing the dead mice in a certain spot every day. At first after a few days I'd have to discard some of the bodies, but after doing this for some time I now have crows waiting for me in the morning for the mice.

Haven't seen a hawk in the area for quite some time.

Oh, and I usually get 2-6 mice per day.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Wow! That's a lot of mice!

A lot of people say they also appreciate presents, like pieces of shiny things, ribbons, and such.

 

[aart]

Huh......where are you located?

Interesting circle...not sure it's balanced.
Hawks eat mice and rats.
Crows keep hawks away.
Trapped mice are keeping crows around.

Wonders how much chicken feed rodents are eating despite the trapping?

 

[ChickenWaddle]

Huh......where are you located?

Interesting circle...not sure it's balanced.
Hawks eat mice and rats.
Crows keep hawks away.
Trapped mice are keeping crows around.

Wonders how much chicken feed rodents are eating despite the trapping?

We are located in the Pacific Northwest.

Rodents only get our table scraps thrown into the pen, can't get at the chicken feed, we have it in tubes out of reach. Chickens get most of their food free ranging on our property.

 

[sourland]

I started feeding the crows several years ago as a warning/protecti9on for my pigeons. Every night after I feed my dogs they come to their 'feeding spot' and get the leftovers. They were a better warning system, but generally ineffective as protection after the Coopers hawks.

 

[centrarchid]

Crows are not likely to be effective enough unless they have nest close by and then it will be only while nests are active. I have them come in possibly daily but they are seldom present for more than 15 minutes. Red-shouldered Hawks spend more time here, about an hour, and they do chase off the problematic Coopers Hawks. Still not enough protection time from the larger wild birds because Coopers Hawks work around them by altering visit times.

 

[ChickenWaddle]

Well its August and the crows are still protecting. I've seen them chase hawks, eagles and even a raven away. Ran out of trapped mice, have been using Cat food to keep them around. Still have five chickens.

 

[Naser]

If it is working for you well done and keep going, what about a rooster

 

[chicmom]

That is interesting! We do have some crows around, but I never thought of them as protection for the chickens. They definitely can make a lot of noise if something is going on.....

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hawks don't provide much protection for chickens, but they do provide a good early warning system. The chicken keeper must develop an ear for crow racket and be Johnny on the spot when crows alert. The idea is to help repel the hawks as well as rescue any chickens targeted by the raptors..