Corn vs. crows

[frank]

...Or maybe farmer vs. crows!

I am trying to get some corn going in an area about 500 feet from the house, and I'm losing a battle with some pretty determined crows!

I remember reading a post on these guys, but it's been a while and I was hoping to get some advice from others before i go to war with these feathered thieves.

I get out and plant, do some other chores around here and later when I come back, they've dug up spots all over my rows. Problem is, I can't tell if they got some or all of the seed. I re- seeded heavy on two rows (200' long), and they just dug harder!

Any ideas appreciated! Thanks

[galfriend]

No experience here, but total empathy. Nothing more frustrating than re-planting(S) and trying to outsmart critter(S)! I read this in countryside awhile back;
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues..._Griffith.html

May be a useful tip? Least it's a cheap to try one.

Good luck

[postroad]

Unless you can guard that spot 24/7 for the next two weeks I dont know what else to do?

Sucks when birds find the corn patch.

[Oldcountryboy]

I have crows around here but I have never had any problems with them getting into my corn patch. They love to steal the pecans off my pecan trees which is right next to my corn patch. Why they don't bother my corn is beyond my knowledge.

I can tell you how to catch one: Dig a small hole in the ground near where crows visit. Inside the hole place some corn seeds and then place a cone funnel of some type over the hole to where the crows can still see the corn down inside. Now place a few corn seeds surrounding the funnel to draw the crows near. They will see the corn and eat it and then see more corn down inside the funnel and try to eat it too.

Now here is how the trap works. Before you place the funnel down inside the hole, smear pine pitch around the inside of the cone funnel. When the crow sticks his head down inside the cone will stick to his head. When the crow pulls his head back up out of the hole, the cone will stick to his head and come out of the ground. The crow can't get the cone off and will be walking drunkerly like with the cone stuck to his head. All you have to do is walk over and pick it up.

[MaineFarmMom]

Fake snakes work well for me. I cut an old hose into varying lengths and toss them in the garden. They have to be moved every other day or so to keep ahead of the crows. DH picked up a road kill crow last year and hung it on a stake in the pumpkin and corn 3/4's of a mile up the road. We didn't have a problem up there all summer.

[DavidUnderwood]

They don't like being shot at.
Even if you never hit one.

[frank]

Feathered thieves 1, farmer 0 today. I'm gonna try the snakes...

It took many tries just to get a shot at 'em in the garden that was close to the house.

Finally, (after two misses with a 22 rifle) I bagged one (50 yds) and it became a garden ornament (a real scarecrow). No more crows go near it.

Onward now... lol

And thanks for the ideas! ( I really like the cone trap idea)

[HappyFarmer]

Crows picked all my corn last year, twice! It's too far from the house to shoot them.

We only plant 3 rows, like 130 plants or so, this year I started them in the greenhouse in yogurt containers & transplanted them into the garden at about 2" high. Though we did plant 2-3 kernals in each container, but left a 3 ft diameter spacing. Hopefully it will work out okay & they won't be stunted.

HF

[manygoatsnmore]

Cover the seeds with row cover, white sheets, window curtain sheers - anything that they can't get through to grab the corn or corn sprouts. Take off the coverings once the little plants are well established.