# I think I would like a Crow as a pet. Is this a good idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222 "2009-11-19T23:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/21 "2009-11-20T16:07:58Z")
_\>sigh\<_ > [@Super\_Kapowzler](#): > > Crows can be highly intelligent, or so I have read. I would like to raise one from a baby/chick for about a year, or maybe less, until it is old enough to fly away and not decide to come back to captivity. If you raise it from a chick it will imprint on humans. Also, living with you it will not learn how to find/kill food in the wild and will not learn how to get along in a flock of its own kind. Raising an animal like that from a baby and then releasing it is _cruel_. Please do not do this. Either have a pet or don’t have a pet. > [@](#): > > The two hardest parts are WHERE to get one, without being in a tree getting my eyes pecked out, and what to name it. Keeping crows or ravens in the US is illegal (migratory bird act, as mentioned) unless you have a crapload of permits. > [@](#): > > They seem to be able to eat everything we do, so I could give it scrap bacon and eggs, let it peck on the remnants of a T-Bone, etc. You really need to be better educated as to the diet of a bird like that before you acquire one. Yes, they can eat just about everything we do, on the other hand, humans often have pretty crappy diets themselves. > [@](#): > > I’ve read you can teach them words. Yes. They are capable of learning to talk, though not as adept as some of the parrots. > [@](#): > > Are crows a good idea as a short-term pet? They are a social as a cocker spaniel, according to what I have read. No. As mentioned, if you raise one from a baby it will imprint on you and will then have trouble going to a wild flock. They are NOT a short term pet! They live _decades_. I am concerned because I am not sure you are as informed as you should be to be the owner of a bird of any species. Please educate yourself on your species of interest, as I’m sure you’d want to provide a good diet and environment for any pet. You might try contacting a local wildlife rehabber who might point you to opportunities to actually work wild birds, including crows and ravens, so you can first of all get a better idea of what they are actually like, and second, learn how to properly care for such birds. You might also try to befriend your local crows. As pointed out, crows are quite intelligent. They also have the capacity to recognize individual humans. If you provide a hospitable environment in, say, your backyard to attract crows, and conduct yourself in a non-threatening manner they will become accustomed to you and even, perhaps, approach and interact with you. Again, this will allow you to become familiar with the species prior to taking one on as any sort of pet. I will also caution you that social birds _demand attention_. A LOT of it. MUCH more than most pets we humans have. They can also be extremely destructive. They will chew things up, tear things apart, knock stuff over, get into things… Please do learn more about birds in general and specific species before taking one as a pet. They can be wonderful creatures, but they aren’t dogs and cats, they aren’t even mammals. They have very specific needs and there are pitfalls to ownership. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/22 "2009-11-20T16:16:06Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > All the tapping at your chamber door can get to be an annoyance, though. Isn’t it “rapping?” The only reason I ask is because Eric Draven said “rapping” in _The Crow_. My mom has told me that her mom’s dad (my great-grandfather) had a crow. Apparently it would go to local baseball games with him and curse at the umpires, and would also yell for my great-grandmother to bring him a beer. Not sure if he had a name or he was just “the bird,” or how long he was around, but if I remember correctly he just flew off one day and never came back. Has anyone heard of the guy that got crows to collect change for him in exchange for peanuts? His name is Joshua Klein ([here’s a link](http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/15322)… it’s got a video embedded that I can’t watch because of the net nannies here), and it’s pretty ingenious really. Not sure if he mentions it in the video, but the idea could be used to have crows help clean up litter. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/23 "2009-11-20T16:29:43Z")
It’s both. > [@](#): > > As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. > “'Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door — > Only this, and nothing more.” > … > Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/24 "2009-11-20T16:35:16Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Why would it be any nastier than any other caged bird? Parrots tend to have dry droppings, Feces, urate, and a touch of liquid. Crow droppings tend to be “splashy” IME. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/25 "2009-11-20T17:21:32Z")
**Broomstick** said: > [@](#): > > They can also be extremely destructive. They will chew things up, tear things apart, knock stuff over, get into things… Don’t forget shit on everything. Birds don’t have an anus. When they have to go, they go. Even if they are sitting on your shoulder or head. They can’t be trained to hold it. They can also be agressive to strangers or children. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/26 "2009-11-20T17:58:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Parrots tend to have dry droppings, Feces, urate, and a touch of liquid. Crow droppings tend to be “splashy” IME. I would think, given a similar diet, their droppings would be similar. Crows in the wild eat anything not nailed down. Caged parrots eat a pretty regimented diet. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/27 "2009-11-20T18:22:44Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > No because if you get 4 and 20 crows you can put them in a pie and eat it. Can you eat a parrot? Sure you can. A friend of mine bought a parrot because it spoke English, Japanese, French, Hungarian, and ancient Mayan. He put it in a cage and left for work. When he got home, the cook had plucked and roasted it for dinner. “But that bird spoke five languages!” he said to the cook. The cook shrugged her shoulders. “So why didn’t it say something?” _:rimshot:_ I’ll be here all week. Don’t forget to tip your moderators. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/28 "2009-11-20T18:35:21Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. > “'Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door — > Only this, and nothing more.” > … > Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. “Surely”, said I, "surely,/that is something at my window lattice Let us see what there at is/and this mystery explore. Let my heart be still a moment/and this mystery explore. “'Tis the wind/and nothing more.” My favorite poem, and I’ll recite it by heart at the drop of a dime. Be warned, As to the o.p., this is a bad idea unless you are both experienced in the rearing and care of wild birds, and are prepared to provide for the bird for the two or three decades it may live in captivity. Corvids are arguably the most intelligent of all aves, but with that comes a very strong social bonding instinct and a long rearing period in which they learn how to forage, horde, and otherwise survive from their parents and nestmates. A crow or raven raised in captivity would have virtually no chance of surviving in the while for any period of time, so unless you intend to keep it caged and wings clipped, this is a fairly cruel thing to do. Ravens are also definitely one-person animals and may be aggressive or protective; unlike parrots and other pet bird species, they aren’t domesticable and will display wild behaviors. And few veterinarians, even those familiar with exotic pet birds, are going to be especially knowledgeable about he particular illnesses of corvids. In general, as other posters have noted, this is every kind of a bad idea. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/29 "2009-11-20T19:09:34Z")
My cousin raised one he found as a chick. Very smart and it talked. He loved it. Also, I have a friend who currently owns one. It talks as well. She rescued and loves it as well and only speaks of it in high regard. It’s always friendly to me. However, it is illegal to possess. > [@Super\_Kapowzler](#): > > …and what to name it. Edgar Allen Crow. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/30 "2009-11-20T19:28:49Z")
Nevermore. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/31 "2009-11-20T19:35:28Z")
[Rufus Griswold](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_Wilmot_Griswold#Relationship_with_Poe). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/32 "2009-11-20T19:35:47Z")
> [@Super\_Kapowzler](#): > > and what to name it. Poe Boy ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/33 "2009-11-20T19:57:41Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Don’t forget shit on everything. Birds don’t have an anus. When they have to go, they go. Even if they are sitting on your shoulder or head. They can’t be trained to hold it. > > They can also be agressive to strangers or children. Birds may not hold their waste like humans do, but they can easily be trained to fly to their cage or designated spot to void, then fly back to you. Paper-training birds is very common and almost necessary when you have a long-lived, intelligent bird that wants to spend all their time poking into whatever your doing. Birds are only agressive if they’ve been taught or conditioned to behave that way. Presumably someone who decides to own a bird will learn how to properly train them and behave around them. It’s flat out wrong to generalize like that. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/34 "2009-11-20T20:03:26Z")
Name it “Tom Servo” ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/35 "2009-11-20T23:21:30Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Broomstick** said: > Don’t forget shit on everything. Birds don’t have an anus. When they have to go, they go. Even if they are sitting on your shoulder or head. They can’t be trained to hold it. Parrots absolutely can be toilet trained to hold it and they do have anuses, and they go when they WANT to go-- that just doesn’t have much to do with when WE want them to go. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/36 "2009-11-20T23:33:11Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Don’t forget shit on everything. Birds don’t have an anus. When they have to go, they go. Even if they are sitting on your shoulder or head. They can’t be trained to hold it. Incorrect. Birds _do_ have an anus. Some can (to an extent) be “toilet trained”, most typically to poop in a designated spot (like a trash can). The thing is, their metabolism runs so very fast that they really need to poop every 20 minutes or so. And if they’re mad at you they’ll poop on you _delibrately_. > [@](#): > > They can also be aggressive to strangers or children. This is true of any bird. They consider their owner/family to be The Flock. Strangers are Not Flock. Birds are instinctively defensive of The Flock and somewhat to very hostile to Not Flock. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/37 "2009-11-20T23:35:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Parrots tend to have dry droppings, Feces, urate, and a touch of liquid. Crow droppings tend to be “splashy” IME. > [@Turek](#): > > I would think, given a similar diet, their droppings would be similar. Crows in the wild eat anything not nailed down. Caged parrots eat a pretty regimented diet. Only to the extent that kept birds have a much lower parasite and pathogen load. Liquidity of feces in birds does vary from species to species. For example, cockatiel poo is much drier/more solid than conure poop even on the exact same diet. Fresh fruits - which are very good for birds - will also result in “loose poops”. So diet and species does have an effect. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/38 "2009-11-20T23:37:58Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Broomstick** said: > Don’t forget shit on everything. Birds don’t have an anus. When they have to go, they go. Even if they are sitting on your shoulder or head. They can’t be trained to hold it. Just to add another response to this: my grandparents have many birds of multiple types. They’ve potty-trained the birds to poop only when the bird is on their finger; usually they help prompt the bird by moving their finger up and down a little and saying “Poopie?” so the bird gets the hint. If you remember to do this with the bird a few times an hour, you can be sure it won’t poop on you. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/39 "2009-11-20T23:38:24Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Ravens are also definitely one-person animals and may be aggressive or protective; unlike parrots and other pet bird species, they aren’t domesticable and will display wild behaviors. Parrots are not domestic animals, either - they are wild animals that are tamed anew with each generation. They not only have all their “wild bird” weaponry, they also have wild bird instincts and most certainly do demonstrate wild bird behaviors at times. They just happen to have early imprinting quirks that we can subvert early in their development to convince them that humans are part of their flock, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222/40 "2009-11-21T02:07:48Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Parrots are not domestic animals, either - they are wild animals that are tamed anew with each generation. They not only have all their “wild bird” weaponry, they also have wild bird instincts and most certainly do demonstrate wild bird behaviors at times. They just happen to have early imprinting quirks that we can subvert early in their development to convince them that humans are part of their flock, and vice versa. True, but the imprinting can make them essentially domestic animals, i.e. they will adopt the behaviors and social customs (to the extent that they are able) of humans. Corvids will not, however; even though a young raven or crow may imprint on a handler, they’ll still retain many of their wild behaviors, albeit somewhat stunted due to the lack of appropriate socialization with other members of their species. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-would-like-a-crow-as-a-pet-is-this-a-good-idea/518222.md?page=3)