Crows

[tmosscurrier]

Crows or ravens are stealing eggs from the nesting box. The chickens free range during the day, so we leave a door open for them to jump up into the nesting box. I have twice caught crows taking the eggs and eating them. I’m concerned that anything we put up to keep the crow out, will also keep the chickens from jumping up there. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[DemeterAD9]

How big is the door opening? Are we taking a person door or a chicken door? Photos? If the crows can see eggs from the sky then of course they will figure out how to get them. If they are getting into the coop from a side door then that’s super smart of them!

The crows have clearly learned where the good food is so it will be hard to stop them in a way that won’t also stop your hens from using the nest boxes. Depending on how you feel about it and whatever legal things you can/can’t do, perhaps try a live trap with an egg as bait and once you’ve caught one either scare the crap out of it before letting it go or get rid of it permanently. I’ve caught squirrels for stealing feed and shook them up in the live trap, seems to work. Or you can blow out a few eggs and put something inside a crow would find unpalatable, but I’ve no clue what they would dislike that won’t kill them.

I personally quite like my local crows as they are pretty good at keeping the hawks away, they chase them away from their nesting area which just so happens to be a little ways behind the house in the woods. Of course if they ever start causing problems like going after chicks then they will be shot… but they’ve been good neighbors thus far.