The Chow as a Menace to Poultry Raising. 
313 
occur only in certain localities, while in other places, though the crow 
may have an unsavory reputation, as he generally does in farm¬ 
ing communities, he is at least free of this opprobrium. The reasons 
for this are probably twofold, depending, first, upon the abundance 
of other food, and, in the second place, upon the accessibility of 
poultry. As poultry raising is now generally conducted, when any 
special attention is given to it, the eggs are no longer exposed to 
the danger from crows, since the hens lay in regularly appointed 
houses. Furthermore, the young chicks are, as a rule, much better 
protected, being confined in yards and runs near the house instead 
of being allowed to roam at large with their mothers. Nevertheless, 
as will be illustrated below, the crows may become very daring in 
their attacks when other food is scarce. The necessity of an abund¬ 
ant supply of food is especially great during the months of April 
and May, when the crows are rearing their young. Certain ex¬ 
periments on feeding young crows in captivity, which are reported 
by Forbush* (pp. 45-50), indicate that the young crows require a 
large proportion of animal food, and that, when fledged, they “ab¬ 
solutely require a daily amount of food equal to about one-half 
their own weight; and it is evident that they will consume much 
more than this to their own advantage if they can get it.” Since 
young chicks are usually raised at about the same time it is evident 
why they often furnish a very acceptable addition to the crow’s 
larder. 
Judging from the fact that comparatively few complaints have 
been received, it would appear that the poultry raisers of this State 
have not been greatly troubled by the crow. During the past season, 
however, two cases have been reported from different sections of 
the State, in which the depredations by the crows have been so per¬ 
sistent as to cause serious losses. The first of these was reported by 
Dr. V. L. Leighton, who has an extensive poultry plant not more 
* Forbush. Edward Howe. ‘‘Useful birds and their protection.” Published under direc¬ 
tion of the Massachussetts State Board of Agriculture, second edition, 1907, x x + 437 pp., 50 
plates, colored frontispiece and many figures. 
