Keeping Raven or Crow as Pet – 7 Things You Should Know

It is nearly impossible for an inexperienced eye to differentiate crows and ravens at first glance. Nonetheless, these beautiful birds are famous for their dark mystical appeal, immense intelligence, and unique mannerism.

In other cultures, crows and ravens symbolize death and metamorphosis. For this reason, keeping them in captivity is a continuous bone of contention.

While some individuals abominate these birds as messengers of doom, others gladly welcome them with open hands. Unfortunately, it is unlawful to keep them at home because they fall under the category of wild birds.

Still, some experts recommend a couple of non-migratory breeds like a pied crow or white-necked ravens as ideal pets. All in all, if you want to enjoy a rewarding experience with your pet birds, keep them in custom cages that allow them to fly in and out with ease.

That said, keep following as we unravel why you should pick either bird as a pet.

Raven or Crow as Pet – 7 Facts to Consider

Taking care of ravens and crows is undoubtedly challenging, especially to amateur owners. Before taking your amazing bird friends home, it is prudent to seek vital caring tips from reliable bird experts.

Also, it would help if you understood that these birds do not express emotions like cats and dogs. Therefore, do not anticipate cuddling moments or a walk in the park on a leash.

Given that domesticating crows and ravens is a pretty new idea, it is laden with several legal restrictions. Fortunately, ravens make ideal pets for those eager to spend several years with their pets because they live up to 30 years on average.

On the contrary, healthy crows live for approximately 8-15 years. Something else, although ravens are slightly bigger, crows have an intimidating and aggressive penchant.

Altogether, ravens and crows make extreme, fascinating pets and do not incline with the evil world. That said, the final decision to own either depends on a personal preference. Here are other common traits that will probably make the decision-making process less daunting.

– Wild Animals

Raven and crows’ wild nature makes it almost impossible to place them in a home setup. More so, they are migratory creatures that fly miles away at least twice yearly. It would sound rather inhuman to cage such a creature year in year out. In other words, do not expect ravens and crows to sit around in tiny cages waiting for their owners to come home.

Even when taking care of a rescued bird, the law clearly states that one should return them to their natural habitat within a specific time limit. It is worth noting that crows need to live with others and create family bonds in the wild.

This coexistence comes in handy during nesting and when chasing away predators. Therefore, excluding them from their counterparts is the worst thing you can ever do to them. Bear in mind that even if you have to keep one as a pet, ensure that they return to their natural habitat on a regular basis.

– Intelligent

Raven and crow’s intelligence stand out among similar species. Most impressive is that the intellect capability is equivalent to the IQ prowess of a seven-year-old child. It should not come as a shock that ravens and crows can solve puzzles and complex problems. In addition, they can easily make abstract reasoning and hold flock discussions.

During mating seasons, it is common to find ravens doing clever stunts to allure mates. For instance, you might them flying upside down, somersaulting, or barrel rolling. Most striking is that they also imitate other bird’s voice calls, learn tricks and make out human faces.

– Strong Bite

Crows and Raven’s bites are strong enough to crush down small bones and other hard objects. Although they rarely bite humans, avoid moving too close to their enclosure before you familiarize yourself with them.

Mostly, a bite starts with a slight nip on your finger as a warning sign. If an individual fails to retreat, the birds can angrily plunge and give a spiteful bite. Luckily, bird bites do not last long and instantly stop when you move away.

– Very Noisy

Most birds from the Corvus family, including ravens and crows, produce squeaking, irritating sounds. While crows make varied sounds, you can hear gurgling caw-caw sounds similar to alarm calls in some instances.

On the flip side, ravens make refined sounds that sound more like croaks. Bear in mind that these sounds travel miles away as a form of communication with others. Therefore you should consider the nuisance and whether it sits well with other people in the vicinity.

– Not Solitary

Ravens and crows are communal and prefer spending time with others. One impressive example is the shared responsibility of bringing up the little ones by the parents and older siblings. Additionally, non-mating and young crows peacefully cohabitate together without any major confrontations.

When attacked by rivals, crows gang up and chase bigger enemies like ravens and owls. Often the fights escalate during nesting seasons or winter to fend off other predators competing for similar resources such as food.

These dominating traits help them to take supremacy in agricultural areas and cities. On the other hand, ravens prefer living in the wild as a pair or within small-sized flocks.

– Need Large Space

Not under any circumstances should you keep your ravens and crows indoors in small enclosures. As with any other wild birds, consider placing them in large spaces. Due to their territorial nature, make your birds feel at home and more in charge of their domain.

One quick solution is to erect poles in the enclosure where your birds can fly and perch. Typically, this is more practical if you own vast parcels of land for your birds to indulge in an almost similar environment to their natural habitat. All said and done, these birds would rather spend considerate time flying miles away than taking care of a territory.

– Legality & Permits

The federal law prohibits keeping wild pet birds at home without a permit. Even if you come across an injured bird, it is vital to notify the authority for proper care and advice. Failure to do this often leads to the confiscation of wild birds. Sometimes, the activity may attract stiff penalties.

Like other migratory birds, crows and ravens are protected by the 1918 bird act. The act essentially protects all birds traveling over long-distance to seek warmer territories in winter or lay eggs.

Thus, it would be best if you had a valid reason before requesting a permit to keep your wild friend home. Keep in mind that a long tale about your perfect relationship with birds may not bear any fruits. Instead, authorities prefer applications from animal rehabilitation centers, particular care institutions, and nature reserves.

How to Attract Ravens or Crows in Your Garden?

Regrettably, horror movies and other media forums depict crows and ravens as agents of misery. Most people do not know that these birds have coexisted for centuries with humans, as indicated by famous researchers in the book, ‘In the company of Crows and Ravens.’ Arguably, the relationship between crows and humans is undeniably symbolic and uniquely intertwined.

It might take considerable time to attract flocks of crows or ravens in your yard. Below are brief guidelines destined to help you simplify the entire process.

– Feeding

The easiest way to win a bird’s attention is by feeding them regularly. In the beginning, try to find out the food that pleases the birds most. This process may require several trials because crows are fussy feeders at times. You might tell a favorite meal by how fast birds pounce on it.

Although birds would do anything for regular junk, strive to give them healthy foods. If possible, ensure that the meal portions consist of grains, vegetables, animal protein, unsalted nuts, potatoes, berries, and other fruits.

Then create a standard feeding schedule so that they can have a clue on when to expect you. Even if it is exciting to keep on throwing food at them, avoid overdoing it because they become overly dependent. Lastly, do not forget to offer clean drinking water for the birds.

– Trees

Crows would appreciate a place they can perch, settle and converse with peers at will. Indisputably, trees or poles make ideal resting points for the birds. Likewise, they allow onlookers to have a closer view of these stunning creatures.

– Shiny Objects

Beyond anything else, shiny objects swiftly manage to captive and fascinate crows. It is not unusual to find shiny stuff in their nests. Thanks to exposure to bright sunlight, shiny objects would certainly attract hordes of crows and ravens in your backyard.

Wrap Up

Attracting wild birds in your yard is a journey less traveled. However, a willing and persistent owner can win the over real fast with the mentioned tricks above.

Moreover, place unreal crow or raven images in the garden. Since these birds love companionship, this approach is an instant attraction and the beginning of a rewarding journey.