Crows taking eggs!

[coveredinoil]

We have noticed crows going into our coops and coming out with an egg flying off into the next field where we find a lot of empty egg shells.
Does anyone have a method or ideas to keep the ....... out?
A net would be ideal, but just not feasible for the size of our runs, also tried CDs and other bright stuff which works for a day or so, but they appear to be just too clever!


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[Nicos]

have you thought about roll-away nesting boxes?

If they can pinch them from in there then take a video of them and put it on YouTube!!! ...at least that way they'll be indirectly paying for their pinched eggs!

[mothhawk]

This may be worth a try. Blow a few eggs and fill with mustard. Wipe them carefully so there's none on the outside, and replace every egg in the coop with them. If they learn there is no food value in the eggs, they'll give up, because, as you so rightly say, they're smart!

[Scarlet]

Are your coops and best boxes open? They need to fly in and out, couldn't you make the access homes smaller.

My runs are too large to stop wild birds getting in but the coops only have small pop holes for access.

[squibbs]

Given that crows are smaller than chickens size of access isn't going to be a factor.

I have heard liquid soap is better than mustard - birds dont have the receptors to taste chilli etc

[Guest]

I have this problem with magpies taking duck eggs and they work in a gang. To make it worse it was how I got my first ducklings as the women I got them from lost the previous years ducklings to magpies.

I like the idea of mustard possibly liquid soap if its works but does anyone know where you stand with doing this - legally, animal cruelty etc. are they classed as pest/ vermin?

[Rob the Radish]

Use fairy liquid, not mustard, they hate it and rarely come back after a few days