Ravens - any traps that work?

Jockers84 · May 7, 2023

Are there any traps on the market that could be used to move these on? I know there’s licence to shoot them but just wondered about other methods. A larger ladder trap maybe? They’ve never been a problem before but can’t let a lamb hit the ground outside and they’re on the scene taking tongues and worse.

Disclaimer - this is a hypothetical question and asking for a friend 🫣

Kidds · May 7, 2023

They are clever birds, shooting one gets the message across. I haven't shot any as they do me no harm but a friend did because they were taking poultry, the rest never came back.

I regularly had 30 here and liked to see them, haven't seen or heard one for some time now. I assumed bird flu got them.

soapsud · May 7, 2023

How many have you got?
There's a breeding pair at our new lambing ground. The one occasion a raven came in for a newborn, it was mobbed by the two crows that we've since learnt to tolerate and whose territory it is (they get afterbirth and gleanings from feed for the underweight ewes postpartum ).

I'd be interested if a ladder trap would attract ravens - from what I've seen, they're not as social as other corvids.

This year, the raven pair have 2 fledgings. Last year it was just one. Something will have to be done.

egbert · May 7, 2023

Jockers84 said:
Are there any traps on the market that could be used to move these on? I know there’s licence to shoot them but just wondered about other methods. A larger ladder trap maybe? They’ve never been a problem before but can’t let a lamb hit the ground outside and they’re on the scene taking tongues and worse.

Disclaimer - this is a hypothetical question and asking for a friend 🫣

Really sorry for your problem.

like @soapsud we've got them nesting within sight of lambing fields, but seldom have an issue.
By chance, I calve a herd of South Devon cows nearby before we start lambing, and the volume of cleansings they produce mean everything is full to bursting by the time lambs hit the ground.
This was brought into sharp focus last year when my lad tried lambing his ewes a month earlier....... that wasn't fun for the first few days

As @Kidds says, they're very intelligent, and I've heard one example can work.

Chae1 · May 7, 2023

@Bobthebuilder

Guiggs · May 7, 2023

I've had a pair in the middle of my block for at least 10 years, fledged 4 last year, I don't know how many yet this year, I suspect I'll soon find out judging by the noise in the top of the tree.
As a rule they just clear up the afterbirth although they are very intelligent and have been known to have a go at cast ewes.
One year in particular they were having a go at ewes and lambs when they were birthing.
Like the pair of foxes I've always had here I think it's a case of better the devil you know...
I'd be very surprised if you'd catch them in a trap, they don't miss a trick but good luck anyway!

MRT · May 7, 2023

If a person were to capture one accidentally, how far would the release site have to be before said bird could not find its way home? Swallows navigate the whole world and aren't the brightest. Probably they would be home before you.

neilo · May 7, 2023

MRT said:
If a person were to capture one accidentally, how far would the release site have to be before said bird could not find its way home? Swallows navigate the whole world and aren't the brightest. Probably they would be home before you.

About a foot would likely do it, if it was below water?

DanM · May 7, 2023

They can make outdoor lambing very demoralising. Flocks of 30-40 juveniles. Not uncommon to see 20 surrounding a lambing ewe with the rest stationed in bordering trees/hedges warning if you approach. Ladder traps and Larson traps don’t work. Scarecrows help if moved every couple days. An “example” will work for a couple days. Then you need to make more examples…

MrNoo · May 7, 2023

Got them here, they bred 4 young ones last year, they are very very intelligent birds, we've obviously had Larsens out for Magpies and you would normally catch all sorts but the Ravens don't go near them. I reckon a decent ladder trap you'd get one but not tried it.

Nearly · May 7, 2023

Looking at putting chicken wire on top and around a silage feeder and making mesh funnels in from the top.
We've around 100 crows decimating local nestlings and leverets.

davidroberts30 · May 7, 2023

Al R · May 7, 2023

I didn’t know they could be touched? Bird flu has sorted out most of the nasty birds we had. Last year 26 Great Black backed gulls scouring the farm at all times. This year 3. Ravens used to have over 10 pairs here. They’ve been thinned out over the years and now bird flu has decimated them further

davidroberts30 · May 7, 2023

Al R said:
I didn’t know they could be touched? Bird flu has sorted out most of the nasty birds we had. Last year 26 Great Black backed gulls scouring the farm at all times. This year 3. Ravens used to have over 10 pairs here. They’ve been thinned out over the years and now bird flu has decimated them further

243miles away before they find their way back

Jockers84 · May 7, 2023

soapsud said:
How many have you got?
There's a breeding pair at our new lambing ground. The one occasion a raven came in for a newborn, it was mobbed by the two crows that we've since learnt to tolerate and whose territory it is (they get afterbirth and gleanings from feed for the underweight ewes postpartum ).

I'd be interested if a ladder trap would attract ravens - from what I've seen, they're not as social as other corvids.

This year, the raven pair have 2 fledgings. Last year it was just one. Something will have to be done.

We have a family of them at the home place that has started to give bother the last couple of years, prior to that the kept well away from any human activity to my knowledge.

We have another family/nest on a rented place 6 miles away, to date they’ve not caused bother but they rear 3-4 chicks nearly every year.

Come to think on it, I see them a lot more now when transiting between the two places so both are most likely breeding well.

They’re big brutes, and sleekit AF! I’m thinking they might go in for a baited trap, can’t find any that are large enough though.

I’ll get in touch with a game keeper and see if they’ll do a deal as we’re over run with roe deer at home as well.

Macsky · May 7, 2023

davidroberts30 said:
243miles away before they find their way back

I heard 303, can never be too sure

Macsky · May 7, 2023

I’ve heard that they are known to have been caught in a ladder trap, but that they don’t hang around in it for very long, smart enough to get out

Al R · May 7, 2023

Side entry Larsen’s with a magpie as decoy this time of year is best I’ve been told. The young try and play with the magpie’s and get caught and the adults protect their young. 9 in 1 trap in 24 hours was the best I was told

som farmer · May 7, 2023

we have a couple of pairs, don't interfere to much with us, but have caused agro with tack sheep getting cast, go for the eyes, udder and navels, horrible.

had trouble with young ones continually pecking our patio doors, drives us nuts. But you can never get anywhere near them, they are definitely smart.

Mate had trouble at lambing one year, 243 from the other side of the valley, provided the answer, hit or miss, they soon learnt the lesson.

Basically horrible birds, they kill and eat millions of songbird nestlings a year, as do crows, magpies, jays, and domestic cats. But nobody will ever admit to that.

spark_28 · May 7, 2023

Guiggs said:
I've had a pair in the middle of my block for at least 10 years, fledged 4 last year, I don't know how many yet this year, I suspect I'll soon find out judging by the noise in the top of the tree.
As a rule they just clear up the afterbirth although they are very intelligent and have been known to have a go at cast ewes.
One year in particular they were having a go at ewes and lambs when they were birthing.
Like the pair of foxes I've always had here I think it's a case of better the devil you know...
I'd be very surprised if you'd catch them in a trap, they don't miss a trick but good luck anyway!

This 100% and a reason I don't believe in indiscriminate vermin control.

Ravens - any traps that work?

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100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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