Crows are stealing my eggs

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

I wouldn't bait them either. What if the crow dropped a bit of poisoned bait in your chook pen?

Peter16 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:44 pm

I did not mean something that will kill them, just something they would dislike....

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:41 pm

Update on the crows.

I tried the wire tunnel it didn't work. I had a horsey thing the day after I put the wire tunnel into operation and couldn't collect the eggs through the day. Didn't even slow down the crows. Not one egg left only a broken shell from one.

I will have to invest in those roll away nests for that particular pen.

Since I have been collecting the eggs a couple of times a day again and blow me down if the crow didn't try to pinch the golf ball.

FOUR!!!!!!!!! he dropped it during his escape. Maybe they are not as bright as I gave them credit for as the stupid crow hadn't worked out yet it was a golf ball. DDDRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Well, it was worth a try. So now for plan B (or is it C?). You sure have a rotten bunch of crows where you are.

GeoffChook · **Joined:** Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:07 am **Posts:** 351

Since you and Michael were here, CL, we are constantly losing eggs, and I cannot help but think that a dead crow hung above the cage would deter them.

I really wish I still had the old .410 shotgun. You had to be close and accurate but it was incredibly effective inside about 6 metres and pretty much harmless over about 12 metres.

In the meantime I'll find some roll-away nesting boxes. Anyone have any ideas?

Tahir · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:39 pm

the only thing i can think of at the moment is to keep them locked up until you get the roll away nesting boxes :-?

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:35 am

If you can catch them. :lol:

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

try makeing some sort of trap dorr that pushs in but not out so they can get out then do wat u want with them
its hard but if you can do it it should work

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

Some roll away nest boxes have a tray at the front under the perch that you easily reach in and grab eggs from. That wouldn't work with your nasty crows. I think you need a design where the eggs roll to a protected area at the back. This link showed a wooden one that just had a gap at the bottom of the back of the laying box. Sounds easy to make, but I'm not sure if your 'smart crows' would reach in and still grab it.

http://www.nfpledbury.co.uk/products/po ... tboxes.htm

similar:
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l184/ ... ollaw4.jpg

Mesh for the bottom - looks like fake lawn
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l184/ ... ollaw7.jpg

Maybe you can come up with something similar that suits.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:08 am

Geoff wrote:

Since you and Michael were here, CL, we are constantly losing eggs, and I cannot help but think that a dead crow hung above the cage would deter them.

I really wish I still had the old .410 shotgun. You had to be close and accurate but it was incredibly effective inside about 6 metres and pretty much harmless over about 12 metres.

In the meantime I'll find some roll-away nesting boxes. Anyone have any ideas?

Geoff, I have already been sourcing out roll away nesting boxes. I have found Bellsouth to be the cheapest so far but they come flat packed

and I will need to srew and rivet them together

. As if I have the time but I guess I will. Bell south had a two box version for about $132 plus postage of course.

I will be investing in one before the spring so I don't keep losing my sussex eggs to crows.

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