Crows

Maldon · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:44 pm **Posts:** 4

Hi new to the forum. I have a growing problem with crows hanging around the chicken coop it started with 2 crows a few months ago now we have a dozen or more every day and they are driving me up the wall. It’s more the noise of them I can’t stand but they are stealing scraps or were until I started closing the door after letting the chooks out. The coop is fully enclosed so I don’t know why they are still hanging around or more importantly how do I get rid of them? HELP!!!

cluckychick · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:56 pm

I don't have crows but I have a flock of Noisy Minor birds and Top Knot Pidgoens hanging around our cages stealing food! They fit inbetween the wire squares as they are so small! Grrrrrrrr

Maybe you just need to persist for a few weeks until they get the message that the food is no longer freely available?

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

They are after the food and any eggs they can steal – crows love eggs

As you now have a murder of crows at your place you will have to ensure they don’t get what they want and they will eventually leave

Also DON’T let any young chicks out = they will be crow food if you do

edited to correct the name of a group of crows = it is 'a murder of crows' not a funeral - that comes later obviously

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 4:31 pm

Maldon,
As mentioned, the crows will hang around while they are getting food. I know of some methods of lets call it encouraging them to leave the area, however these are not legal, as such cannot really advise what to do in that situation. Crows are a protected species!!!.

An "old" method to keep crows away was after one "died" possibly "road kill", was to hang it in a tree or on the fence post near the yard. The other crows stay away for a period of time.

If you carry a stick around with you while in the yard, if you see a crow point it at the crow like it is a gun. You will be suprised how soon it will fly away after seeing you pointing the stick at it. This is not a complete solution

. Remembering the old crow is a very clever bird.

If they are after the eggs, you could always mix some very hot chilli's up into a paste, chip a hole in the eggs and mix yolk and chilli together, with the shell making a edible bowl. Place the egg where the crow will be able to enjoy a "free meal", and of course when you can watch the show. This will change the mind on the eggs for a while. This method also helps with hens whole like the taste of eggs. (different topic).

Rhode Red

Cuckoo Pekin Man · **Joined:** Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:38 pm **Posts:** 1

Use an own windvane like this

yes they do work well

Maldon · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:44 pm **Posts:** 4

Thank you all very helpful. The windvane looks interesting would that also work to scare hawks away?

BobJnr · **Joined:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:50 am **Posts:** 1

I have been reading this with interest as crows are driving me crazy they are such a pain in the ---- stealing food, eggs and making a hell of a noise all day I will try that windvane idea also and see if it work with any luck

Maldon · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:44 pm **Posts:** 4

Will be interesting to compare how we both go Bob

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

soozorps wrote:

As you now have a funeral of crows [I think that is what a lot of crows together is called]

Close its what comes before the funeral its a "Murder" of crows.

johs · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:28 pm

I have a problem with sparrows and doves. I'm (slowly) covering the large gauge wire with small, @1cm, chicken wire. Unfortunately the chicken door is where the doves come in and they're too stupid to find the way out again. I can't tell you how many dove bodies i've had to remove because they bash themselves around trying to get out.

So it might stop the sparrows but I don't think it will stop the doves. Might have to put up some plastic strips and hope they don't put the girls off too.

I do have one of those garden owls and no one is scared of it. I did move it round all the time but it made no difference. :-?

I'd be interested to see how the weather vane works too.

I was thinking I could whip something up like my grandfather had in his veggie garden. You know a bird shape with rotating wings. They seem to work.

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