# Making friends with the crows **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495 "2015-11-03T04:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/1 "2015-11-03T04:38:31Z")
Crows are pretty. They’re also common up here. Yep, pretty common. We’ve been trying to make friends with them. They helped clean up stale bread, until the raccoons started coming. So The Wife nixed the handouts for a while. We had some peanuts in the shell, so we fed the crows last week – to their delight and our amusement. I shared a _few_ of my Cheetos with them this weekend. There are one or two that will come within 10 or 12 feet of us, and many will swoop down on the offerings as soon as our backs are turned. I’m hoping someday a brave one will stay put and I’ll be able to put a morsel down in front of it. We like having them around. I might pick up a bag of unsalted peanuts in the shell tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/2 "2015-11-03T04:42:37Z")
If these are the same kind of crows we have in Houston, don’t be surprised if they imitate your front doorbell, then when you go to answer it, they sneak into your house and rob you blind! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/3 "2015-11-03T04:48:42Z")
No one ever rings [our doorbell](http://www.homewetbar.com/polished-brass-ships-bell-p-2556.html). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/4 "2015-11-03T05:10:50Z")
Because of that fantastic Gargoyle lurking about?\* \*Where did you get that, if you don’t mind my asking? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/5 "2015-11-03T05:23:53Z")
I love crows, too! I am trying to get the ones in our area to come around more. I will try peanuts in the shell next. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/6 "2015-11-03T05:26:20Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Because of that fantastic Gargoyle lurking about?\* > \*Where did you get that, if you don’t mind my asking? Probably [Design Toscano](http://www.designtoscano.com/product/gaston%2C+the+gothic+climber+sculpture+-+large+-+ng32115.do?sortby=bestSellers&refType=&from=Search), though it’s available from [amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Design-Toscano-Gargoyle-Climber-Sculpture/dp/B002YFICJU), Way-Mart, Wayfair, and probably other places. Pay attention to the size. Mine is the Large. My sister gave me the [zombie](http://www.designtoscano.com/product/the+zombie+of+montclaire+moors+sculpture+-+db383020.do?sortby=bestSellers&refType=&from=Search) as a Christmas or birthday present years ago, so I don’t know where she got it. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/7 "2015-11-03T05:40:37Z")
I always like when the large flocks of crows land in the woods behind my house. When they get on the roof, it does sound a bit like someone knocking on the door. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/8 "2015-11-03T05:49:03Z")
Much obliged! BTW, I read somewhere that crows are very intelligent and can use tools, so if I were you, I’d keep an eye on your table saw. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/9 "2015-11-03T05:57:44Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Much obliged! > > BTW, I read somewhere that crows are very intelligent and can use tools, so if I were you, I’d keep an eye on your table saw. Yeah, we loaned ours to a raven like 3 years ago, and he never did return it. :mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/10 "2015-11-03T09:47:56Z")
Never trust the crows. I can tell you from experience, don’t turn your back on them, don’t let them know any of your passwords. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/11 "2015-11-03T11:24:27Z")
I feed 4 to 6 daily, bread mostly. Yesterday they got some dried out carnitas. You should have heard the racket as they called in every friend for 5 miles around! ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/12 "2015-11-03T14:14:23Z")
There’s a very bold crow that hangs out in the smoking area of my local pub. Last week I was feeding it small dog biscuits from my hand. It’s been reported to get on the tables and take a sip of people’s beer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/13 "2015-11-03T16:34:31Z")
We went out to the patio this morning, and a crow landed on the wood pile. It was at least six feet away from us, but it’s closer than usual. I went inside to find something to give it. There was a zip-top bag with some Trader Joe’s Brioche Toasts in it that I suspected were a bit stale (they are, but just a little bit), so I took them out. When I walked past the wood pile, going in, the crow stayed there. When I came out the back door, the crow stayed put. It was only after I displayed the treat, broke off a piece, and approached it, that it flew off to the hot tub. It came right back after I retreated. We did this three times. There are still two and a half biscuits left. Very pretty birds. And they Remember. Best to stay on their good side. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/14 "2015-11-03T16:42:10Z")
What do you call a single crow? Attempted murder 😃 ---
**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 3, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/15 "2015-11-03T16:42:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Very pretty birds. And they Remember. Best to stay on their good side. Otherwise, they might [bring their friends.](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yz-t2tmHwSI/VVytjMJoOUI/AAAAAAAAB_A/lZOIcUYdc-4/s1600/CrowsHitchcock.jpg) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/16 "2015-11-03T17:24:40Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Yeah, we loaned ours to a raven like 3 years ago, and he never did return it. :mad::mad::mad: And you will see it back… nevermore. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/17 "2015-11-03T17:33:07Z")
Just streamed a great Nature episode (from 2010) called A Murder of Crows. Worth a look if you haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/18 "2015-11-03T18:27:41Z")
Just sit in a place and toss out one treat at a time. Once they grab it, toss the next one just a little closer. Ultimately you can get them eating out of your hand. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/19 "2015-11-03T18:32:58Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Just sit in a place and toss out one treat at a time. Once they grab it, toss the next one just a little closer. Ultimately you can get them eating out of your hand. That’s the general strategy. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495/20 "2015-11-03T18:45:44Z")
I love crows too. Around here they are great at eating the roadkill. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-friends-with-the-crows/736495.md?page=2)