Keep Crows Out Of Your Yard With A Clever Bird Feeder Trick

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Bird feeders attract all sorts of unwelcome guests since the food is easily accessible, and it's incredibly frustrating when crows show up and steal the seeds meant for songbirds. So how can you drive these aggressive pests away? Well, if you're looking to fix your crow problem, get a feeder that's specially designed to keep these oversized birds out.

If you're hoping to ward off pesky crows while letting your favorite songbirds grab a bite, pick a feeder that has a barrier or something preventing the crows from landing on the perch properly. If you're looking for a DIY option, you can make your own crow-proof feeder. This usually involves wrapping a cage around the seed container or creating narrow "hallways" around the feeder entrances. Either way, smaller birds can fit through, but crows are blocked off.

If you'd prefer a store-bought option, you can buy a feeder designed to keep crows at bay. Certain ones come with cages already around them (like this iBon Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder), others have a roof where you can adjust the height (Kingsyard Adjustable Platform Bird Feeder is a great example), and there are even ones that close up if a larger bird lands on them (like this feeder from LCSEVEN).

If you have wire mesh lying around the house, that could be an easy and cheap fix to your cow problem. As demonstrated by the YouTube channel I Have Two Left Hands, connect a threaded rod between two plant saucers and then wrap that aforementioned wire mesh around the contraption. Voila — you've created a crow-proof bird feeder from materials most likely in your garage.

Of if you're more inclined to shop, make sure to buy feeders with anti-crow designs, with an emphasis on built-in cages or roofs designed for smaller creatures. The More Birds Squirrel-X Double Suet Feeder features two cages — one cage on the outside and one cage on the inside that holds a suet cake — preventing both rodents and oversized birds from breaking inside. There are also feeders like this Woodlink model that have a huge dome on top, which keeps crows from sidling up to all the seeds.

One thing to really take into consideration, however, is safety. When purchasing caged feeders, make sure that you'll be able to easily keep them clean for your feathered friends in order to stop the growth of mold or fungus. You'll also need to double-check the spacing of any wire elements to keep small birds safe. The last thing you want is for a songbird to make its way inside a cage and then have a difficult time getting back out. With safety in mind, your yard will soon become a haven for all sorts of beautiful birds while crows will have to look somewhere else for a snack.