Will Crows kill a chicken?

[Mooner]

One of my hens (very apt name - Houdini), always has a daily forage in the field next to the paddock, and always comes back when I go to the shed for the corn in the afternoon. I can usually see her, and she jumps back over the fence and joins in the feeding. today, i couldn't see her, she didn't come back, and when I went over the field, and down the lane to the woods, all I could find was a few of her feathers in the bank and hedgerow. no blood, and no body. there are crows about, and usually buzzards, but haven't seen the buzzards for a while, and think thats maybe because of the crows attacking them.

My query is whether it's likely that the crows would've attacked, and taken away a largeish chicken? she was a Maran, and still no sign of her at bedtime. Very sad, as if she is still alive, it's so cold tonight, and everything is frozen outside, so the cold or other predators would finish her off overnight. Poor Houdini.

 

[foxy]

I am sorry more likely a fox, 06 I don't know about a crow, they prefer carrion I think, and if they can young chicks or young ducklings.

 

[lwescott]

I would think a fox too

Although, we did have a sheep at the farm (named her Dolly) and the crows pecked one of her eyes out!? :roll:

 

[victorias poultry]

Would also have thought a fox, although I have seen a crow kill a sabelpoot, but think a maran would be too big a bird

 

[Lordcluck]

A Crow is quite capable of killing a hen, but would be unable to carry it away. The late Rex Woods, champion of Rare breeds some forty years ago and more, wrote in his book ' Rare Poultry of Ashe ', of how a pair of carrion crows made murderous inroads on his stock of large White crested Polands.
They were attracted to the bird's globular white crests, and killed them by stoving their skulls in with their powerful beaks!

 

[foxy]

A Crow is quite capable of killing a hen, but would be unable to carry it away. The late Rex Woods, champion of Rare breeds some forty years ago and more, wrote in his book ' Rare Poultry of Ashe ', of how a pair of carrion crows made murderous inroads on his stock of large White crested Polands.
They were attracted to the bird's globular white crests, and killed them by stoving their skulls in with their powerful beaks!

Sounds like a very interesting book, welcome to the forums Lordcluck 17 08

 

[ncotb]

hello LC 17 does sound an interesting book!

 

[Lordcluck]

Thankyou! I used to have a copy, but with successive ' moves' it's gone the way of many of my favourite Books/ Records etc, disappeared into the Ether!! No doubt Veronica Mayhew stocks a copy or two!

 

[Tim]

Last year, I remember talking with Chris and Mike Ashton who said they were having to house all of their ducks at night (which believe me is not easy with the number they keep) because some crows were killing ducks in the early hours of the morning.

They were killing fully grown Indian Runner Drakes.

In this case though, I would put money on a fox which will have carried the body away, leaving a few feathers behind.

Sorry you lost her

I would make sure the others are secure because as sure as hens make eggs if it was a fox, he will be back again. 06

 

[Anonymous]

my friend witnessed a group of crows attack and kill a hen. they are capable of it but also dont think they would be able to carry it away?? x