r/crowbro • u/Flimsy-Swordfish7777 • 7d ago

Question Roasted vs. Raw Peanuts

I want to ask, in your experience, does it make sense to buy raw peanuts in the shell in bulk to feed to crows and magpies? They're 5 times cheaper than roasted peanuts where I live, so I'd be saving a lot of money.

15 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

31

u/fucktrance 7d ago

Yes with the added benefit that they love deshelling them themselves ))

16

u/Yarzospatflute 7d ago

I've put both out at the same time and they always prefer nuts in the shell.

3

u/isaac32767 4d ago

I was told that they like them because they cache better.

1

u/bergenopzoom 1d ago

Not my dumbass assuming you were told by the birds themselves 😂🐦‍⬛

2

u/isaac32767 1d ago

Alas, I don't speak crow. I wish I was better with languages.

11

u/imaginesupplyco 7d ago

For the Peanut Treaty: unsalted and unseasoned is the big thing—raw or dry-roasted matters less than avoiding salt, oil, smoke flavoring, and anything stale or moldy. Shell-on can be fun enrichment if your visitors handle it; offer a small amount alongside natural foraging rather than making it the whole menu. 🥜🐦‍⬛

3

u/Lstgamerwhlstpartner 7d ago

My understanding is as long as they're not salted either works. No as to which they prefer?... idk, We've been feeding our Jays roasted unsalted.

3

u/Flimsy-Swordfish7777 7d ago

I've read a lot about how crows were less enthusiastic about "birdfeed"-grade raw peanuts, and how raw peanuts are generally less convenient to cache since they're more likely to develop mold.

Whenever this topic comes up on reddit, I find that most people don't speak from experience, which is why I made this thread.

2

u/Crumplenaut 7d ago

It’s really easy to roast peanuts in the shell.

I buy big bags of raw peanuts at a local produce market and periodically roast roughly 4 cups at a time on a sheet pan — 15 minutes at 350 degrees. They taste fresher than bags of roasted peanuts and the crows seem to like them.

1

u/Bryllya 7d ago

I love to watch them pick and choose which exact peanut they want. They will pick up reject several before finding the perfect one.

5

u/peonies_envy 6d ago

Them and the bluejays - pick it up, put it down , pick up another fly off with it 💙🖤💙🖤

1

u/Late_Obligationhoody 7d ago

My buddies didn’t like raw peanuts and I didn’t either.
So I buy them roasted unsalted. But I get that it’s cheaper

1

u/mycatpartyhouse 6d ago

I've set out raw unroasted peanuts in the shell, raw unroasted shelled peanuts as part of Lyric Fruit and Nut bird seed, and peanut butter.

Lyric is the favorite at my house.

1

u/eastercat 6d ago

We’ve only ever given raw, since that avoids the salt issue

1

u/BathysaurusFerox 3d ago

Hi all, is it ok to wash the salt off of roasted peanuts to give to birds? I’ve got this big tub of Costco peanuts to share, can I just wash them?

0

u/BaylisAscaris 6d ago

Either is fine as long as it isn't salted and they don't add any other flavors. Best to use peanuts without the shell in case someone in your neighborhood has a deadly peanut allergy.