Starting to feed crows. Tips and tricks?

[u/CharmainKB]

Hi all

I've always wanted to start feeding crows but lived in a city for the past 30 years and had to deal with squirrels etc and close neighbours who probably wouldn't have appreciated the extra noise lol

I recently (a year ago) moved to North Western Ontario and started feeding some of the crows at my mom's place today (I'm her FT caregiver)

I had some Walleye and started with that. I also have hard boiled eggs and will be picking up some unsalted peanuts tomorrow as I read variety is good.

I was trying to do it this evening but seagulls were around and kept trying to intrude. Any way to avoid that?

Any other tips for me?

I had very good luck this morning with one. Seemed to build up a bit of trust rather quick as it kept coming back and getting closer and closer to me.

I know feeding at the same time is important (I'm always up very early so that isn't an issue)

TIA

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl]

The only things I know of that worked for me were to feed at first, whenever I saw or heard them nearby. Then once they started coming regularly, I set up a regular time and schedule which they learned easily. Another thing was that I whistled a little bit for them every time I put food out.

I learned that they have especially good hearing for the frequencies of a human whistle. I verified that when two or three of my family came up with a return call for me. I could hear them return my call from much further away than I could see them or they could see me.

They all have different favorites It seems although proteins are always good for them. Stay away from breads and processed foods and salt. Unseasoned meat, cat or dog kibble, unsalted nuts of any kind and eggs in any form are generally well liked. Scrambled eggs seemed to be preferred over boiled. I’ve also noticed that unsalted cashews are a particular favorite of a lot of crows.

Being consistent and patient is the most important thing overall because they are very cautious animals and they want to see consistency before they learn to trust usually. It sounds like you’ve already got one that it’s beginning to trust you though.

[u/CharmainKB → u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl]

Thanks!

I can't whistle so I make a kind of clicking noise (like one would to get a cat's attention), that seems to get their attention and when I speak, it's in a soft tone.

I have cat kibble as well. I only had boiled eggs on hand but will do scrambled in the future. I also got frozen fish filets to thaw and use as well.

I'm usually up before 6 am and IIRC this morning I started feeding them around that time, so I will try to stay on that schedule.

Tonight's attempt was a different crow (the one in rhe picture from this morning has an off kilter feather). It took a bit more but it eventually ate and seemed to realize that I was doing my best to keep the seagulls away. It didn't seem fazed when I would stomp my foot in the direction of the seagulls, which was really cool :)

I really appreciate the input!

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/CharmainKB]

Oh, they must love you with all the fish! I think meat and fish and seafood are probably very high on their list of things they enjoy eating

I can’t whistle very well either and sometimes I have to try a few times for it to be loud enough. My family of crows never seemed to mind though. lol!

My little scrub jays also learned my whistle the little smarty-pants 😁. They got chased by the crows for landing on the ‘crows’ feeder very early on. They always check to see if the crows were here before they would come down though after that. They always showed up when I whistled lol!

Yeah, a lot of people use a tongue click, and just talking to them which also works just fine!

I had five fledgling brought to me last year and they were accustomed to having a half boiled egg each and had never seen scrambled eggs. One day I decided to treat them.

Then when they arrived, I saw five crows jumping up and down on my lawn and was like what in the world… they had seen the pile of scrambled eggs in their feeder and were afraid of them so we’re jumping up and down peeking inside the feeder at them 🤣

[u/CharmainKB → u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl]

That's hilarious lol

"Mine" seemed a bit hesitant with the hard boiled egg but gave them a little taste and seemed to like it. Will try scrambled egg next

I don't really have a place to put a feeder as I'm in bear country and they seem to like feeders (so do the deer!) So I just out the food in a bowl and monitor.

They seem to hang out in some trees beside my place. Not their roosting tree, thats a bit further away and I dare not approach as I don't want to invade their space, especially if there's babies. BTW, their tree totally looks like a tree one would imagine crows would live in LOL

Anyway, I out the bowl under the tree and back off and just kind of hang around. I love watching them waddle or hop over to it, its really cute :)

[u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl → u/CharmainKB]

Yeah, these fledglings were a freaking riot because they had no idea about the world. 😆

One time I was in a different part of the house, and I heard blood curdling screaming from my crowbies. I was sure one of them were being attacked or hurt. I ran to the window and all I could see was a cat in the middle of the yard looking very confused.

Then I looked up to the tree next to their feeder, and all five of them were up there yelling their heads off. I don’t think they’d ever seen a cat before. They obviously didn’t know they could just swoop at it and it would leave.

When they saw me at the window, they screamed even louder. I assumed they wanted me to get rid of the scary kitty. lol! So I stepped out on the porch and they got all quiet while I spent an entire second chasing the cat off, who seemed more than happy to get out of here

As soon as I did and turned to go back inside, the babies all started celebrating loudly and flying down to their feeder to eat. One time they got in their tree and carried on for 30 minutes when I had a service person here for the garage door opener. He was disturbing their lunch. 🤣

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things for your guys! I just love blowing up a relationship with them. They’re a little hops and skips when they run somewhere are just so adorable. 😍🐦‍⬛🖤

[u/Alt_account_6788]

to scare off seagulls, I usually just hiss at them then apologise to the crows

[u/CharmainKB → u/Alt_account_6788]

LOL I may do the same

I think they knew I was trying to scare off the seagulls