Actually, we don't have crows in Australia. We have ravens. Beautiful, jet black, intimidating ravens. Well, they're beautiful until they discover your chickens, that is. Because they love eggs.
My chook enclosure is in three sections - the inner sanctum, with tall fences and corrugated iron on the outside floor to stop the foxes burrowing under, the second section, relatively safe, and the one below, divided into two - wait that's four sections. On the left side where the apple crate wicking bed is is also the black currant patch which provides shade. It's blocked off because I've put a heap of green manure there for the chooks to eat when it grows.
So you see, my chooks are well cared for and have plenty of space. I let them out in the garden for about half an hour or an hour a day, two on the weekends. They make a mess, and the foxes are always on high alert for a chicken dinner.
But the ravens, dammit, the ravens are a new one. They send a scout to check it out first. That's the one we hear in the morning. Then they call in the troops, some six or seven of them, who come and pierce the eggs with their beak and carry them away. The chooks can't protect them. We find emptied shells on the garden, sometimes still full of yolk if the raven's been startled and drops them.
So. Something had to be done. I put a sarong up - they don't like the flapping, and because I change the layout every morning, moving the tub and switching it with another silver tub, they are a little uncertain. If I collect the eggs early enough, and are home, I can beat the ravens. But I'm not always home. It's an utter pain. But this is working so far, and I hear them over the road a lot more, after the neighbour's eggs.
Poor chooks. What must they think when a raven comes and steals their eggs? I mean, if I was a chook, I ain't messing with those mean looking birds with their beady black eyes! Sheesh, I'd be like - 'hey, have the eggs, dude, they're yours, and sure, come back tomorrow'.
The elders are flowering and providing shade. One's a native elder. WE keep cutting them back but there's no stopping them. Great shade for the chooks, and good cover for marauding ravens.
We have a little back up plan. This is an Aussie bird of prey that ravens hate, apparently. I'm going to put it up somewhere above the chicken coop but so the hens won't see it as they will lose their marbles if they think it's a hawk. Apparently they work - ravens are pretty darn smart though, so I don't know.
Jamie picks up gravel and throws it in the air to scare them if he's home. Literally stoning the ravens. Hopefully this bird scarer is a little more gently effective than that. Because I really fancy an omelette.
What do you do to protect your eggs from thugs ravens?
With Love,
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We have crows in South Australia, but not many and they're localised which is one of the reasons it was so weird naming one of the football teams after them.
I didn't think we had Aussie crows? Maybe that's what someone told me - or corrected me! Apparently they're Australian Ravens - who knew! So even wierder that the Adelaide crows are named after them!
I did some googling on some government environmental websites and they called them crows. As for the football team, I can't stand the sport so don't know the story behind it.
Wow it is so nice❤️
I met a raven once. Or a crow. Not sure which but they were black all over.
And they were very, very smart indeed! :D
I love seeing bits of your world <3
p.s. It's always good to have a back up plan!
They are magnificent birds ---- black as tar, or the centre of night, where stars refuse to go. But the fuckers need to keep their darkness away from my eggs.
:D
Well at least they're keeping you on your toes! Keeps a soul alive you know
Game on and best of luck 😂
p.s. I suspect nature always wins anyway so enjoy the crows! Lucky you!
THEY WILL NOT TAKE MY EGGS. I AM THE EGG RULER. I SAY WHAT GOES IN AND OUT OF THE COOP.
ALL HAIL THE RULER OF THE EGGS!
YOU SHALL NOT PASS, CROWS! HEED HER NOW!
OR SUFFER THE ANGRY EGG RULER, DAMMIT!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, CROWS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
p.s. Don't count your chicken eggs...
😆
Hey... speaking of which...
if you're into counting eggs (or Counting Crows)...
I found this!!!
And omg... if you're into Counting Crow this must be one of their best live performances ever.
He's an artist really. Mind boggles! 👀
Just do the whole album if you're into their stuff... it's rather brilliant!
What a shame the chooks have to deal with the ravens every day. I can only imagine how hard it must be to have to always be on high alert.
Yeah, although I suspect they just move aside and let them in. I don't hear a lot of noise from the chooks when the ravens arrive.
I must admit, the chicken looks cute and lovely to me, and one seems like being photographed.
She's very curious when the phone comes out!
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Chicken to you 'hey, have the eggs, dude, they're yours, and sure, come back tomorrow' 😂 I think Jamie and rocks is the best defense, most fun anyway
Oh AND he was banging a bit of aluminium and some wood together. Was driving me bonkers!
What about stuffing some shirts and pants and making the old fashion scare crow, or should I say scare raven?
By the way, Stone the Crows is a cool band name.
Hello friend and if you put a doll or scarecrow on the crows, they use it a lot around here and this works.
Okay, forget my question on your post I just read, what is a chook? It's a chicken, now I got it.
Ravens and crows can be a real pain in the ass. Robin's cousin has lots of chickens and complains of the same thing. Since we get all of our eggs from her, I'm ready to stand guard.
You always put in a sprinkle of humor in your posts, always worth a laugh or two.
The Sarong sounds like it's working. I know that the ravens and blackbirds around here are very skittish, flying off when they see the littlest movement.
I like your hubby's possible solution, and if it doesn't work it will look really neat in the garden.
Never had a problem with egg thieving. We used the circus tent to keep the hawks out. But I bet it wouldn't work for ravens.
That's a beautiful environment, are you using the intensive or semi intensive system?