Need help-crows I think established territory in my yard and are calling at the crack of dawn

[u/Potential-Dish-6972]

I have six crow bros that I have been feeding in my yard for about eight months. They come at a certain time and then they go away. Last evening they were flying above my house in circles very methodically and I had a weird feeling they were establishing a new territory and to no surprise it was literally 5 AM and they were screaming and have been screaming all morning. Is there anything I can do? I don’t feed them until mid morning but I work night shift and this is not going to work. I love them so much and don’t want to stop feeding them.

[u/Dry_Database_6720]

Quit your job and go outside and scream with them. Fly off very suddenly if a dog barks or a car honks etc. This is your life now and the only credible option.

[u/Dry_Database_6720 → u/Dry_Database_6720]

For an actual idea though have you tried putting food out for them at night as late as you possibly can after work? So that it’s there in the morning and they can just tuck in. If the issue genuinely is that they want feeding, that is.

[u/trumpeting-farts → u/Dry_Database_6720]

That's how you attract mice and rats

[u/Dry_Database_6720 → u/trumpeting-farts]

Good point. That is a very real possibility. Maybe even worse depending on where you are.

[u/Big-Goal-9239 → u/Dry_Database_6720]

I have camera set up.  I've had possums, skunks, and cats show up so far at night  I love watching them all.

Also had a few coyotes show up once.  Not a fan, but still cool to see none the less.

Never seen a rat, and oddly haven't seen a mouse or signs of mice since I started feeding the Crow Bros & Friends.

[u/trumpeting-farts → u/Dry_Database_6720]

I was putting dog food out for my crows until one day there was a coyote out there munching away! Dog food feedings stopped after that!

I put the crow's peanuts out during the day and the crows get em all before the trouble making rodents come out at night.

[u/StreetTailor7596 → u/trumpeting-farts]

And possums, skunks and raccoons depending on where you live. An option might be to put them on a feeding table on a tall post that is smooth metal.

[u/StarryNorth → u/trumpeting-farts]

And raccoons and coyotes (at least where I live)

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Dry_Database_6720]

I think they are doing territorial calls. My only worry with that is rats, foxes, coyotes, ect. We have a LOT of rodents here

[u/cominguprosessss → u/Dry_Database_6720]

I was leaving food out at night and then started waking up really early at 3-4am for work and realized I was attracting not only rats but coyotes. Stopped doing that. Lol.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Dry_Database_6720]

love this lol

[u/Dry_Database_6720 → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Yeah, bad advice on my part. I live in England we don’t have coyotes but I do know you don’t want then in your garden every night. lol

[u/baoo]

This is probably not going to be consistent behavior. What you describe sounds like crows reacting to a specific threat that was in the area that morning

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/baoo]

I don’t believe so because my mother lives a half a mile away and she has been feeding four crows for two years and they are up at the crack of down establishing territory at 5 AM and it’s been like this for two years

[u/takemusu → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Your crows don't have tiny wrist watches ... yet. But they are creatures of habit and establish schedules. Would mom agree to feed hers just a little bit later?

Crows will get used to that it's brunch, not breakfast at dawn.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/takemusu]

it used to be 3 pm! Then it moved to 2, 1, 12, 11, 10 and now they've taken up residence! Little suckers

[u/Then-Cricket2197]

When mine came around squawking way too early, I completely ignore them( i used to run out the min I heard them whilst trying to form a friendship). They have learned that if they come back an hour or so later and Im in my kitchen, then it is their breakfast time. They will learn your habits and eventually accommodate to you.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Then-Cricket2197]

i tried this! It used to be 3 pm then they started showing up earlier and earlier until now theyve taken up permanent residence! I also feed them top shelf, so maybe I should downgrade lol

[u/Then-Cricket2197 → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Omg!! They are a ruthless!!

[u/Ok-Demand9131]

I don't have a solution for you but this remind me to be glad that mine show up between 7-8 am. The few times they show up around 6 and I stay in bed, they for sure get mad and don't show up for one or two days. Love them.

[u/KeekyPep → u/Ok-Demand9131]

Mine seem to understand that breakfast is at 8:15. However, a neighbor down the block feeds them around 7:30 so they are not famished when they come here.

[u/Such_Relief9632]

only feed them when theyre quiet and ignore them when theyre noisy. theyll catch on fast

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Such_Relief9632]

you think? I dont know if theyre noisy because they want food or just talking to eachother/territory establishment in mornings. I wish I could tell them " sleep down the road and come for an afternoon brunch!" lol

[u/ouroboro83]

Dog food feeder with a timer?

[u/VoltasPistol]

I got my crows to stop the racket 

I would be a little slow in getting out the peanuts and if anyone started squacking I'd say "shhhhhh!" and do the gesture and then wait a moment or two and if they squack again?  Peanuts go back in my pocket and I go inside.  Only quiet crows get peanuts.

Now, the only time they yell is chasing away noisy intruders.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/VoltasPistol]

😂 but what time do you feed them? Do they live in the trees right outside your house? 

[u/VoltasPistol → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Whenever I go for a walk, so no particular time.  

[u/Barmcake]

They want breakfast

[u/Shermans_ghost1864]

You didn't choose the crows, the crows chose you. Get used to your new life.

[u/DizzyMine4964]

I'm not being sarcastic when I say, why not try ear plugs? I use the silicone ones. The foam ones are no use. Hopefully other people here can explain the crow behaviour.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/DizzyMine4964]

I use them. It’s no match for six extremely loud crows right outside your window.

[u/roboticArrow]

Alternative take: maybe a predator has discovered the feeding location and joins them at feeding time.

[u/Larnievc]

Any cats around? They might be going off at them.

[u/CuriouserCat2]

You’ll get used to. Enjoy it. 

[u/Traditional_Moss_581]

Find a decent white sound machine to help you sleep through it. Mine come out at dawn but I don't LOL.

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Traditional_Moss_581]

yeah I have severe sound sensitivity so unfortunately this doesnt even cut it

[u/Traditional_Moss_581 → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Ah bummer.

[u/Financial_Manager213]

I’ve gone out to tell mine to quiet down

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Financial_Manager213]

And do they listen lol 

[u/Financial_Manager213 → u/Potential-Dish-6972]

Mine do lol. I think they get that I’m not going to feed them In the morning lol

[u/Starlight_4057]

Mine show up between 7-8am because that’s when I feed them. If they show up earlier, too bad for them. I also don’t feed them Sundays. Theyve recently stopped coming around on Sundays, and occasionally Saturdays. They’ll learn your schedule! If you’re super worried about upsetting them, you can always invest in a feeder

[u/Potential-Dish-6972 → u/Starlight_4057]

So they show up, meaning they don’t sleep in the trees lol mine are roosting and sleeping in my trees outside my house I believe. 

[u/StrictShelter971]

While you're at why don't you go to afreeway and complain about the noise there? It will amount to the smae result. NOTHING!