What to do.. Crows Everywhere

[Scott]

I was out working yesterday at a property about 20 miles away. I found a baby fledgling crow hopping across the yard. It looked like it's wing was injured and it was alone. I scooped it up and took it home. I researched them and found out it was probably a fledgling and I should have left it alone.

I have kept it fed for 24 hours using the Starling Diet. Someone suggested since it is close to flying that I take it outside. When I did, it began squawking and before I knew it, there were literally dozens of Crows all around us.

I just came back inside and they are still squawking outside. What should I do??? Would they possibly feed it? Should I take it back to it's property? If I keep it, will it eventually join this flock of Crows? I would hate to take it back and it starves to death.


https://youtu.be/isKiGlqfXrg

[Chickenlegs]

That may be it's flock. You're in a situation where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If that isn't it's flock it could be as long as the baby learns the language and customs of that flock. If it's nice, leave the baby out where the crows can interact with it. Taking it back 20 miles is a crap shoot I'm not willing to bet on. It's being fed and that "murder" is responding to it's cry. That's a good thing as it will need a flock to thrive out on it's own.

[UDoWhat]

It has been my experience that other crows will kill it just like they do other orphaned babies. I have seem it happen several times to fledging crows and I was unable to save the babies. I would check on the little one.

[Chickenlegs]

It has been my experience that other crows will kill it just like they do other orphaned babies. I have seem it happen several times to fledging crows and I was unable to save the babies. I would check on the little one.

Absolutely! That baby will have to grow up so it can escape if the flock won't accept it. The only crow I ever raised was on a large wired porch for months interacting with the local crows. I was afraid it would never be releasable. One day it did a fighter pilot maneuver and was OUT. All those months it learned about the flock through the wire. The flock was there every morning before daylight. As far as I know he's still with them. He has a VERY large bossy mate.

[Jennefer]

Hi Scott! Do you have a bird rescue or sanctuary close to you that will take baby crow? While i am relatively new to squirrels, i volunteered for 7 years at our local bird sanctuary so i know more abt birds than squees. What is the starling diet? We fed our baby crows soaked dog food kibbles, mini meatballs (which was raw hamburger & powdered vitamin mix), and a thick liquid baby bird formula. Dog food & meatballs were done wth tweezers & liq formula was done wth a syringe wth a long crooked metal tube wth ball end. Had to go down in their crop b/c they can aspirate liquids just like squees. Also have to be careful of crop scald & non emptying crop. My main worry is that crows imprint very easy & that usually makes them non releaseable. When we had baby crows in, we kept their cage front covered & there was no talking to them, so they didnt imprint. This guy sounds too young to survive in his own. But should be wth other baby crows (so he knows hes a crow). A bird sanctuary would get others in. Its baby bird season this time of year in florida & we used to have over 100 babies at any given time of various birds. Like species of similar age went in together & got released together, so they had their own flock. Does he have all of his feathers or just pin feathers? Also yes, the other crows will likely kill him so i wouldnt put him out with them.

[Jennefer]

On a side note...it doesnt sound like you are going to keep him, but it is against federal law to keep crows or ravens as pets wthout a permit. But if he imprints you may not be able to release him.

[Scott]

Thank you to those that responded. I did give the crow to a friend, who had been a rehabber in Arkansas. She is very knowledgeable and echoed, what each of you said. I became concerned, that I would have the love to care for it, but not the time. Another experience that I have learned from. I will do things differently the next time.


One strange thing, since I woke up and still at 930, there are crows squawking in my back yard.

[Jennefer]

Oh good. They do require a lot of time (any baby bird) and crows are mischievous little buggers when they get older. Way more time & attention than dogs. And smarter than a 3 yo kid! The outside crows may be hanging around to get ahold of the baby...or just talking to it. You may have urself some new friends....which keep the hawks away from the squees!!