How To Get Rid Of Crows?

oregon woodsmok · #1 02/28/13, 07:28 PM

These crows have got to go. They have killed expensive poultry and they steal valuable eggs.

I have had no luck with shooting them. They post sentries and it appears to be impossible to sneak up close enough to have a chance of hitting one with a .22 or a shotgun.

ksfarmer · #2 02/28/13, 07:43 PM

Find someone with a game caller and a owl decoy. He will be able to call in the crows and shotguns can get rid of a bunch. The survivors will be a lot more hesitant to return to the area.

Jennifer L. · #3 02/28/13, 07:45 PM

They roost in a city near me in the thousands, and they hire crews with noisemakers (firecrackers, that kind of thing) to work at driving them out of the city when they go to roost at night.

I have a Raven family that works my place, but outside of a few eggs I've never seen them bother the chickens yet. I'm sure they would take smaller birds given the opportunity,though. I figure live and let live.

RedDirt Cowgirl · #4 02/28/13, 07:51 PM

There's a PBS show on Nature or Nova, called A Murder of Crows.

Have you seen it? They did experiments on crow communication you might find useful - I thought it was generally one of the most interesting programs ever!

FarmboyBill · #5 02/28/13, 08:18 PM

I saw that RD. They said when on egot killed, they all came for the funural, then they stayed away I cant believe you cant get a shotgun on them. Get yourself out early, dark early. Hide under something you can shoort through and wait. Wait till theyre ALL flying around willy nilly, and then get your best shot. Stay hid for another hour, as one of them, or the flock might attack you.

I never heard of a crow attacking chickens and im 65. Never heard of them hurting eggs either for that matter

farmerstac · #6 02/28/13, 08:19 PM

http://video.pbs.org/video/1621910826/

Big Dave · #7 02/28/13, 08:20 PM

There are crow shooting tournaments. Like Bass pro fishing stuff. Get one to come to your area. Just an idea???

winemaker · #8 02/28/13, 09:02 PM

The crows around here constantly steal our duck eggs. 2 or 3 of them harrass the duck till she goes after them, then 1 goes for her nest and steals an egg. Constant harrassment seems to work, I let my miserable little schnauzer out to fend them off. At first they would mess with the dog, then she ate a few. As long as she is around we never lose an egg.

Ravenlost · #9 02/28/13, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

I saw that RD. They said when on egot killed, they all came for the funural, then they stayed away I cant believe you cant get a shotgun on them. Get yourself out early, dark early. Hide under something you can shoort through and wait. Wait till theyre ALL flying around willy nilly, and then get your best shot. Stay hid for another hour, as one of them, or the flock might attack you.

I never heard of a crow attacking chickens and im 65. Never heard of them hurting eggs either for that matter

Me either and I'm 53. Have had chickens since I was seven years old.

When crows would start getting into my Daddy's corn he'd shoot one and hang it in a nearby tree to warn the others away. Don't know if that helped, but he swore by it.

I would recommend building a better chicken coop so that predators couldn't get your chickens or eggs.

Zilli · #10 02/28/13, 09:14 PM

I've seen them go after chicks and ducklings but not full grown birds. I've also seen them flying over with what looks like eggs in their mouths; apparently they're better at finding the hidden chicken and Muscovy nests than I am.

DaleK · #11 02/28/13, 09:20 PM

Grandpa used to soak some corn overnight to soften it, then take long hairs out of the cows or horses tails and poke a hole through the corn, feed a single hair halfway through the hole. Sprinkle a bunch of doctored corn around along with some normal and the hairs would get stuck in their crop and they couldn't/wouldn't fly away. Then he could kill them or if you left them some would die on their own. Haven't tried it myself.

He also used grain laced with strychnine but Grandma wasn't happy when all the cats ate dead crows and died.....

RedDirt Cowgirl · #12 02/28/13, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

When crows would start getting into my Daddy's corn he'd shoot one and hang it in a nearby tree to warn the others away. Don't know if that helped, but he swore by it.

According to that program, your Daddy's way DID work.

It focused on an experiment that showed the crows not only recognized "evildoers", they were able to communicate that to the rest of the flock.
Scolding was the response they documented, but they also talked about the flock avoiding fields where they had seen other crows killed.

Old Vet · #13 02/28/13, 09:26 PM

All you need to do is wound one so that he can't fly and the rest will attack him while you shoot them. Any wounded crow will attract the rest.

Nimrod · #14 02/28/13, 09:42 PM

You need to check your local regulations and make sure that it's leagel to shoot them.

If it is, set up an owl decoy and hide close enough with a shotgun. Crows hate owls and will dive bomb the decoy. Pick off a few and the word will go out that your yard is off limits. Then you can try eating crow.

The story I was told is that the US made a treaty with Mexico to protect ravens. You could not shoot them. Then it was discovered that the treaty was worded in such a way that it also protected crows. The treaty was amended so that you could only shoot crows if they "were causing crop damage or about to cause crop damage". I have never met a crow that wasn't "about to cause crop damage". Typical gooberment speak. LOL

fireweed farm · #15 02/28/13, 09:59 PM

Or stop feeding them. They are more than smart enough to find feed elsewhere if they don't have easy pickings of eggs and birds.

salmonslayer · #16 02/28/13, 10:18 PM

When we lived in Alaska we used to enjoy watching Ravens play in the snow. They would walk up a snow slope (like the snow piled from plowing) and then roll down and walk up and do it again. It appeared they did it just for the joy of it.

We have lots of crows and they like to tease the barn cats, I like them.

Sculkrusha · #17 02/28/13, 11:03 PM

Yeah well.......I dont know your crows, but down here Ive never seen a crow kill poultry.
Um, if there is a lot of crows you will never get rid of them all. Would suggest you work out a way of living with them, mayhap you will have to protect your chickens from bad crows.

Cheers.........Scul

Conhntr · #18 03/01/13, 05:28 AM

I have a 22-250 set-up as a 500yard groundhog gun. Several neighboors know i love the challenge and i shoot crows/groundhogs/coyotes for them as well.

I bet if you put a want ad up at the farm supply or hunt club asking for someone that can do some long range predator control you will have several volunteers. They will have decoys and strategy and there will be alot of dead crows. Make sure you get references and set expectations. I.e dont leave any trash, dont shoot near/towards any building/people/livestock etc. Ive been doing it for years, after they call i go over when i have free time, check in, let them know where ill be set up and when.

My experience is like others have mentioned after you spend a a couple days a week shooting crows for a month or so you will not see them again for sometime.

mommagoose_99 · #19 03/01/13, 05:37 AM

My crows here are a blessing. They greet me every morning and warn me when the local coyotes and foxes are about. I feed them. They do guard duty and even protect my chickens from the juvenile bald eagle that has been after my chickens. I guess it is all in how you perceive things . I do not begrudge them a share for all the good they do.
Linda

sandfly · #20 03/01/13, 05:39 AM

I shoot one and they are out of the area for months. will not come near my 2 acres at all. never have seen a crow take a chicken and I am 57. or take an egg from pen area. out in the wild yes they steal eggs. shot at one the other day and they have not come witin 200 yds. of my property since.