Ravens harassing/ stealing eggs from my birds - Ask Extension
I have some country property where I raise egg laying birds and have about 6 ravens that have moved into the area (was 2 now growing). Started off cu...
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Ravens harassing/ stealing eggs from my birds #937036
Asked June 27, 2026, 9:33 PM EDT
I have some country property where I raise egg laying birds and have about 6 ravens that have moved into the area (was 2 now growing). Started off cute them hanging out with the ducks/ chickens/ geese/ turkeys having a snack or drink of water then leaving. Now they are in the coop the second they hear a bird laying an egg and running off with it. We chase them off, have reflective pinwheels, hawk decoy, dead crow decoys, scarecrow holding a rifle...none of it matters. We love the ravens but want them separate from our birds. We have tried having food and water separate from the coop to give them an alternate but it keeps getting worse. Any thoughts?
Washington CountyOregon
Expert Response
Crows and ravens are members of the same bird family (Corvids) that includes jays. https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/crows-jays-and-magpies These species are all known for being smart, very opportunistic, communicate very well, and highly social. It sounds like the birds in your area have learned about an easy source of rich food (eggs) and shared the information with their roost-mates. In general we don't ever want native, wild birds interacting closely with non-native, domesticated birds - Too many chances for direct and indirect (e.g., transferring parasites and diseases both ways) conflicts.
Now that the wild birds have become habituated to getting food at your place, they will not "learn" to stop. You can however, interrupt the egg predation. First, eliminate the food subsidy - The "alternate" feeding station you set up needs to be crow/raven-proof or eliminated all together. Put up netting above and around the coop, and strongly consider an enclosed run for your birds. You could position one or more motion-detecting water "scarecrows" outside that perimeter. The other deterrents you have tried become easily-ignored/the animals become habituated to them once they realized nothing actually happens. The motion-detecting water jet has consequences, and/but they will very quickly learn "safe" approach paths if you don't move the sprayer fairly frequently.