Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Is There Any Way to Keep Crows Out of Bird Feeders?
Is There Any Way to Keep Crows Out of Bird Feeders?. Bird feeders are a popular way to get songbirds up close so that you can observe and photograph them. The downside to this is that larger, unwanted birds --- such as crows --- may eventually find your feeder and figure out that you are maintaining a constant food source. Getting rid of these...
Bird feeders are a popular way to get songbirds up close so that you can observe and photograph them. The downside to this is that larger, unwanted birds --- such as crows --- may eventually find your feeder and figure out that you are maintaining a constant food source. Getting rid of these intelligent creatures poses several challenges that must be overcome one step at a time. Remember that it may take several methods to keep crows away from your bird feeder.
Things You'll Need
Old clothing
Straw
Treated stake (2 inches by 2 inches by 6 feet)
Sledgehammer
Tie wire
Wire cutters
Plastic owl or turkey decoy
Hacksaw
Wire mesh
Shelled peanuts
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Use a scarecrow. Stuff a pair of pants and a shirt with straw. Drive a 2-inch-by-2-inch treated stake into the ground near the bird feeder with a sledgehammer. Secure the stuffed clothing to the stake with tie wire. Cut the wire with wire cutters as necessary.
Wire a plastic owl or turkey decoy into a tree near the bird feeder. Both of these species of bird are mortal enemies of the crow. Sometimes this keeps crows away, but sometimes it draws them in to attack the decoy.
Keep your yard clean. Pick up birdseed that has fallen out of your feeder. Keep excess food and shiny objects that may attract crows out of your yard.
Shorten the perch on the bird feeder. Use a hacksaw to cut the perch on your feeder to three-quarters of an inch. A smaller perch restricts the size of the bird that may land there and feed.
Surround the feeder with wire mesh. Attach the mesh to the upper and lower edges of the feeder with tie wire. Leave only a small two-inch hole in each side to give smaller birds access to the food.
Feed the bigger birds bigger food. Fill up the crows by throwing shelled peanuts on the ground in your yard away from the bird feeder. Be sure to use roasted, unsalted peanuts.
Tips & Warnings
Depending on the time of year and the food situation in your area, some or all of these ideas may work. Or, none of them may work. If you do not have any success, let the birds empty your feeder, clean it thoroughly and leave it empty for a month. Begin by feeding again after no birds have visited your feeder for at least a week.
Work gloves and safety glasses are required when using hand tools.
