Big Black "Crows" Attacking Sheep

[Frank-the-Wool]

We are having increasing problems with extra large Crows, had an in lamb ewe yesterday that was on its back for a short time and it had both eyes pecked out.
They then move on to pecking holes in the side of the sheep and pull the guts out.
They are vicious things and are extremely difficult to shoot as they now tend to be in groups of up to 6 at a time.

Has anyone caught them in a Larsen type trap or any other way of getting them.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ladder trap is the only way ... although these "crows" may be protected

 

[jondear]

Ravens !

 

[toquark]

We are having increasing problems with extra large Crows, had an in lamb ewe yesterday that was on its back for a short time and it had both eyes pecked out.
They then move on to pecking holes in the side of the sheep and pull the guts out.
They are vicious things and are extremely difficult to shoot as they now tend to be in groups of up to 6 at a time.

Has anyone caught them in a Larsen type trap or any other way of getting them.

I’d imagine getting a calling bird for one of these big crows might be an issue. Know any keepers?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Ladder trap is the only way ... although these "crows" may be protected

They are just big Crows.
What do you need to put in the Ladder tarp to encourage them in?

 

[toquark]

They are just big Crows.
What do you need to put in the Ladder tarp to encourage them in?

Another big crow, ideally a couple.

apparently you can tempt them in with eggs or shiny things but I’ve never had a lot of success this way. Call birds are the best way, you’ll quickly hoover them up.

 

[crazy_bull]

The crows round here quickly got used to shotgun range, they haven’t worked out the range of a .222 yet.

You need to change the mode of transportation regularly though as they soon associate the sight of the quad or pickup with one of their mates exploding.

C B

 

[Bald Rick]

They are just big Crows.
What do you need to put in the Ladder tarp to encourage them in?

Sheep carcass or any meat/roadkill

Well built one can catch 50 or more at a go. Designs are on the net. All you need is lengths of 2x3 and netting or mesh and a narrow ladder. Works like a lobster pot

 

[Bald Rick]

Another big crow, ideally a couple.

apparently you can tempt them in with eggs or shiny things but I’ve never had a lot of success this way. Call birds are the best way, you’ll quickly hoover them up.

That's for a larsen trap. Can only catch one at a time. Ladder traps catch multiples

 

[BAF]

I think you need to get them feeding on some sort of bait like ewe nuts or whole maize then bait your trap for a few days and then set it to catch once they're used to it. Only empty it in the dark though otherwise the clever sods won't use it! I caught 4 carrion crows last spring in a larsen trap by my hens all trying to get to my magpie. Obviously ravens are protected so you'd have to let them go.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Keepers on our common built a trap on our ground and baited it with a couple of dead ex- laying hens. Don't know how long it took to catch the first,but caught hundreds in a few weeks

 

[Kidds]

How to make a ladder trap

A strategically set ladder trap will catch birds when other methods of control either won’t work or are impractical.

basc.org.uk

 

[Macsky]

You need to be careful with big crows as they are very intelligent, intelligent enough to figure out how to fly out of a ladder trap as they see you approach with a suitable bang stick.

Ladder trap built exactly to above spec.

 

[steveR]

The crows round here quickly got used to shotgun range, they haven’t worked out the range of a .222 yet.

You need to change the mode of transportation regularly though as they soon associate the sight of the quad or pickup with one of their mates exploding.

C B

Been a pair of Carrion crows here I was after for 18 months or so. Finally cracked the problem with a dead rabbit and sitting in the truck with the .22 at 70yds. Got a mate with a .17 that he reckons is perfect for the odd one.

.222 a tad lightweight... maybe be a 303 needed....?

 

[delilah]

How to make a ladder trap

A strategically set ladder trap will catch birds when other methods of control either won’t work or are impractical.

basc.org.uk

The bodger in me sees that and thinks IBC cage.

 

[Dry Rot]

If you wait until two crows get together, then aim just short of them, you can often get both with the shrapnel!

What works for me is to scatter eggs all around the Larsen trap with a few inside to catch the first crow. Not sure it would work for the big ones. They get accustomed to eating the eggs, then finally venture inside as they get scarcer and hungrier.

 

[crazy_bull]

Been a pair of Carrion crows here I was after for 18 months or so. Finally cracked the problem with a dead rabbit and sitting in the truck with the .22 at 70yds. Got a mate with a .17 that he reckons is perfect for the odd one.

.222 a tad lightweight... maybe be a 303 needed....?

They worked the .22 out after 3 shots. But the .222 just leaves a pair of wings. About 6 ft apart

 

[Kidds]

The bodger in me sees that and thinks IBC cage.

Got one of them too but the ladder trap is the one that works.
I had an issue with jackdaws eating my apples, they ruined loads of them by just taking one peck out of them. Built a ladder trap as per the link, fed it for a week with the doors open etc and then set it.
Had 100 jackdaws, about a dozen magpies and half a dozen jays within a week. I was astonished at just how effective it was. I think I had 49 jackdaws in the first day.
There were many more jackdaws around at the time but they moved on.

 

[delilah]

Got one of them too but the ladder trap is the one that works.
I had an issue with jackdaws eating my apples, they ruined loads of them by just taking one peck out of them. Built a ladder trap as per the link, fed it for a week with the doors open etc and then set it.
Had 100 jackdaws, about a dozen magpies and half a dozen jays within a week. I was astonished at just how effective it was. I think I had 49 jackdaws in the first day.
There were many more jackdaws around at the time but they moved on.

Yeah, was thinking build a ladder trap just use an IBC frame to cut out a chunk of the carpentry, be easy to move about, and the clever sods would be less wary, there's always IBC's around.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Those big carrion crows are absolute evil t@ats and are as smart as anything….they can do some damage to lambs