Crows! :\

[CibolaChooks]

That would be pretty cool. lol There are crows that nest on my place but not nearly close enough. I bought a "crow call" today. It's just like a duck call but for crows. I hope I can learn to use it! I want these to start coming to the house to keep the resident hawk away. But oh yeah, a pet crow or two would be nice!

I have noticed the resident turkey vultures out with their young ones, I guess teaching them to hunt. I love to watch those things. They just soar like there is nothing to it, beautiful to watch.

well i got in trouble for posting that. I have been informed it is illegal to own a crow as a pet. and especially so to distroy a nest. I would never adovocate distroying a nest but i was hoping to get a few eggs out of it. I guess my dreams of owning pet crows are over. Enless i can become a crow rescue or something. maybe rehabilitate them and release.

 

[thedragonlady]

well i got in trouble for posting that. I have been informed it is illegal to own a crow as a pet. and especially so to distroy a nest. I would never adovocate distroying a nest but i was hoping to get a few eggs out of it. I guess my dreams of owning pet crows are over. Enless i can become a crow rescue or something. maybe rehabilitate them and release.

I did re-hab for the Ga. DNR for years, so I had all the necessary permits . Raising a baby crow is rather akin to raising an aspiring shoplifter.They do steal anything not nailed down, get into all sorts of mischief too. Mine were never caged, and learned to use the cat door to go in and out. The year I had a baby crow and 6 baby blue jays, all flying about my farm following me, was a riot. It was a contest to see who could get into the most trouble. Their favorite past time was to devil my Mastiffs , poor tolerant souls !

 

[Triple Willow]

well i got in trouble for posting that. I have been informed it is illegal to own a crow as a pet. and especially so to distroy a nest. I would never adovocate distroying a nest but i was hoping to get a few eggs out of it. I guess my dreams of owning pet crows are over. Enless i can become a crow rescue or something. maybe rehabilitate them and release.

Yeah I think it is illegal to own most all wild animals without some kind of permit. Law enforcement would probably take that more serious than a lot of other things that we would consider much worse.
I have heard several stories about law enforcement destroying white tailed deer because somebody had made a pet out of it. Just doesn't sound quite right to me. Maybe one of these days a crow will adopt you.

 

[Triple Willow]

I did re-hab for the Ga. DNR for years, so I had all the necessary permits . Raising a baby crow is rather akin to raising an aspiring shoplifter.They do steal anything not nailed down, get into all sorts of mischief too. Mine were never caged, and learned to use the cat door to go in and out. The year I had a baby crow and 6 baby blue jays, all flying about my farm following me, was a riot. It was a contest to see who could get into the most trouble. Their favorite past time was to devil my Mastiffs , poor tolerant souls !

Sounds like fun!

 

[cqaway]

Hello I just subscribed to the website and this is one of my problems right now. I have 2 crows (or are they ravins?

) that are coming into the hen house nicking the eggs and eating them in front of the poor girls! My hens are free range (3 hens and one cock, all Brahma Perdrix) they get fluster but they don't kick him out.
If I'm around i run and scare them but I'm usually to late. And i can't spend my days egg guarding!!
Here is a pic of our hen house I thought I could cut the door in two and close the top half would that put him off? What can I do???
thanks for your help.
Celina

 

[crazyhen]

Unfortunately I doubt it would deter them. They are very smart. Put some ceramic thick hard eggs in the nest. Maybe it would discourage them. Make sure the eggs are the same color as the ones your hens lay. I have found some at the hobby stores. Also sometimes you can find wooden eggs there. Also a small poop door in one end of the coop might help to deter the crows instead of the door being open,. I hope this helps some. Oh, crows would not be dettered by the eggs with pepper in them because they do not feel the hot pepper burn like a mammal would.

 

[Cole102]

i had the same problem, but then i noticed since the crows have came i havent seen a hawk around my house since, and my chickens dont mind the crows. its not that big a deal to leave them, but unfortunitaly if a scare crow wont work the only other way to get rid of them would be to kill them. there are somethings you can also do if that is not an option as it has not been with me. i added a smaller door for the chickens to go in and out of from the coop to the run. this makes it harder for the crows to see an entry point if you keep your feed in your coop. another thing is, get a rooster. as odd as this may sound i have a rooster and the crows dont even come close to the coop anymore.

 

[StephieSky]

Hi Celina I like your chicken house!
So will the crows or ravens though. With the big open door, its so inviting.
Unfortunately crows and ravens are creatures of great intelligence and they aquire "habits" through repeating behaviors that have a rewarding outcome. We have numerous crows. I also have resident Jays. Another clever wild bird species

To keep them out of you chicken house I'd suggest you take 2 or 3 of your door panels and cut a small entry in the base of the door. One that is sized just right for the chickens. Put a light frame around the inside of the hole and of the pieces you cut off. Hinge the top of the framed peices and re-attach it to your larger door. Attaching a hook and eye to hold only that portion of the door open throughout the day.

I'm pretty sure if you just turn it into a dutch door they'll keep coming back. They've already figured out there is a tasty reward waiting inside of that little house. And even half a door provides a large enough space for them to watch for approaches and make an emergency exit.

Being able to see if anyone is coming and the ease of making an "emergency exit" is what the crows are measuring when they go inside. The chicken door will eliminate both.

 

[cqaway]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! It's so nice to hear your answer. We are definitely doing this. I'll post pic when is ready!

 

[cqaway]

Thank you!! You are all so kind! I will look for trick eggs in the arts and crafts shop. Can't wait to see his face! Hihi!