How can I semi-tame/socialize a crow? Not to be a pet but to trust me?

Question

Once, a few months ago, I was working in the yard and a nearby crow was squawking, making a lot of noise. Just playing around, I started talking to him in a friendly tone. To my amazement the crow flew down and landed on top of a 6-foot fence just out of arm's reach. I kept talking to it and it kept listening and looking at me, turning its head from side to side. I left briefly to go in the house to get some food for it as a treat, but by the time I got back, it had flown away. For it to do this, I assume that someone must have at least tamed it to some extent.

I was so thrilled by this that ever since I've talked to the crows around my house (there are plenty of them) hoping that it will happen again, but it hasn't. I'm sure that my neighbors must think that I'm crazy by now. :)

What I'm asking for here are tricks I might use to tame one of these wild crows in the same way. I don't want to make it a pet; just to get it to come to me for treats and not be afraid.

Answer 1

First of all, put out a bird bath. Birds love to take baths and this is one way of attracting them. Make sure you scrub the bowl out often to keep it clean and refill it when needed.
Reinforce the visiting by putting out food.
Crows are "Opportunistic Omnivores". In other words, they are just like us and eat everything, however corn seems to be about half of their diet when it is available.
They also eat bugs and earthworms along with a ton of other things.
So I'm thinking this:
Start with the bird bath and put out some type of feeder...not a typical bird feeder you hang in a tree, you'll want something you can move.
May I suggest a garbage can with the lid flipped over on the can. Modify it to make it sturdy by drilling holes in it and using tie wraps to secure the lid to the flipped-over can You might want to put a bit of weight inside to make it more steady, light enough where you can move it but heavy enough where it won't dump over.
Go to a feed store and buy corn. A cereal such as cheerios probably wouldn't hurt either. Bird supply stores have a product called "Bag-O-Bugs"; they are freeze dried bugs. They might find these tasty. If you really get into it, you can start raising worms...
Put out the feed away from your house a good distance. Put the food out early in the morning. They will probably come to it. Do this consistantly. After about 4 days, stand outside a good distance away and watch them, but pretend you aren't looking at them. Observe from the corner of your eye. Keep doing this. You are getting them used to you being there. Next get a lawn chair and sit outside while watching them. Next: move the feeder in a few feet closer to your house. Leave it there a few days, and move it again.
Keep this up gradually and keep sitting there. This is going to take a while....they are naturally untrustworthy.
Eventually you will probably be able to sit very near them while they eat and bathe.
If you want to know how author Mark Bittner did this with a flock of wild Cherry-Headed Conures, pick up the book, "The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill".
He did this process and eventually had them literally not only eating out of his hand, but sitting on his arms. Read the book and follow his process and soon you will have the crows considering you a part of their flock.
After a while, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you had them tapping on your window at meal time!
And there is probably a very good chance that eventually they will come to your hand to eat.
Read up on Positive Reinforcement Training and you will understand the whole process.
Good Luck...it sounds interesting!

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How can I semi-tame/socialize a crow? Not to be a pet but to trust me?
Once, a few months ago, I was working in the yard and a nearby crow was squawking, making a lot of noise. Just playing around, I started talking to him in a friendly tone. To my amazement the crow flew down and landed on top of a 6-foot fence just out of arm's reach. I kept talking to it and it...

Answer 3

Crows are really smart. I read a report the other day that they are as smart as dogs. When i was growing up, the old man across the street from my grandmother had a crow, well sort of had him. It's tounge had been cut so that he could talk like a parrot. This crow did not live in his house. It stayed outside, and was free to go wherever he wanted. Everyone on the block knew the crow, because he'd fly into your yard and visit, especially if there were kids in the yard. People always left food out for him. He was just like another member of the neighborhood. I don't know how to tame them this way, but I know it can be done.

Answer 4

I think I would leave the crows and jays alone to be wild. They are real survivors. The eat garbage out of cans and attack cats and dogs and sometimes people at picnics. Your "friendly" crow probably had a meal at a park somewhere and thought it was ready to be feed again. The do attack eyes and eat just about anything. So think about it before you make a pet of one. They won't leave you alone. Not a moments peace will follow you after you "kinda" tame one down.

Answer 5

How To Train A Crow

Answer 6

Your experiences don't surprise me at all. Crows are super smart and seem to like a good time. That said, put shiny things in your yard. Spinners and those pinwheels things they give to little kids might draw interest.
Nuts, and other food is a good icebreaker. Offer cheese and lunch meat. That is not something they usually get and are relished.
Keep talking. I know people who rehabilitate them and return them to the wild and they swear crows understand human speech.
Good Luck and Enjoy.

Answer 7

Be real careful here. You think it's cute and you want the crow to come back and be your buddy - but while it is still living at large. That's all fine and good and I don't have a problem with that in and of itself, but by letting it know YOU are friendly, you are giving it the wrong message - that ALL people are friendly.

We all know that's not true.

Put up a bird feeder in your yard and only fill it with seeds that crows and larger birds really like. Sunflower seeds are good choice, Also toss stale bread in the yard near the feeder. I only suggest that because you said you have a fence. If there is no fence, putting any kind of food out for the birds on the ground could be a death sentence. Only a matter of time before a cat contemplates eating a bird on the ground.

Put a bird bath in your yard. All birds love to bathe - particularly if there are no bodies of water of puddles around. They also like to drink! This will also attract your feathered friends.

Be content to watch wild birds in the wild - helping them along with meals. But to try and tame one beyond that is just putting the bird at risk.

Answer 8

They'll probably follow food. I saw many seagulls in my college campus following around people with sandwiches and there were always couple of seagulls walking people to people seating on grass having lunch. I can't say for sure if the crow was reponding to your talking, but might have been fed by other people in the past and expected some snacks from you. The crow might have been trying to get you to throw food. I've seen seagulls and ducks walk circle around people with food doing some strange stuff. They seem to sometimes learn or associate their actions with the way people react to it.

Answer 9

If you feed them when they show up they will start coming by on a regular basis. For one on one, gain the trust of the advance scout first. Talks To Crows

Answer 10

The crow in your experience may have been a young bird ( pink in the mouth). They see other animals as a source ( parent ) of food if they are not experienced foraging.