I grow up in a small village in eastern europe. It is amazing that you can befriend most of the animals. Chickens are too primitive for that, but cows turned out to be quite intelligent. You can do it the same as with crows, but you should start with a younger animal. You may bring a young cow something to eat and after some time it will recognize you. And they really love to be hand carded (this thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carding). Also remember that cows are quite dangerous (as most of the huge farm animals).
How to Befriend Crows
41–50 of 229 posts
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#42I can vouch for this approach. I lived in the territory of a couple of ravens (close relatives of crows; just as smart and twice as large) and it took me maybe 18 months to build a close relationship. I started out just talking to them and throwing whole peanuts (roasted, unsalted) on the ground while I was doing it. They looked at me warily and did not come close. Later on, the peanuts would disappear, but I was nev…
My amateur theory is that talking makes you less likely to be a predator. You basically say “here I am”, Predators tend to be quiet and sneak up on their prey. I think the tone does indeed help somewhat in my experience.
Makes sense to me. Crows have caught me tree climbing under them during their evening flights to the communal roost, the result was always a chaotic mess. They just couldn't leave it alone. Without fail, eventually one crow would notice and start the alarm call, then the hundreds of crows arriving at the situation would break off flight and begin mobbing as well.
I must have seemed very novel and sneaky.
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#43All strategies here are about food, I don't think feeding any kind of wild animals is good
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#44Does it work with grackles? I'd really love to befriend a grackle or two.
I didn’t know what grackles were, so I did a quick Google search and encountered my avian nemeses!
These bastards are such a nuisance that they’ve made me fear birds. During their nesting season they’ll repeatedly dive bomb innocent walkers-by and threaten to peck at their ears.
Any tips to appease these fascists of the sky would be appreciated.
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#45I live in the Oakland hills so our living room is at the height where birds fly.
Over the last 5 years I've realized that there are a pair of crows which essentially own the airspace above our house and in front of it.
Each time a hawk or owl or crane flies into this airspace, it will be hounded by these 2 crows. And it happens pretty often.
(One of the crows only has 1 leg - that's why I know its the same 2 each time. We've named him Blackbeard.)
I imagine there is so much of nature we just blindly miss.
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#46I can vouch for this approach. I lived in the territory of a couple of ravens (close relatives of crows; just as smart and twice as large) and it took me maybe 18 months to build a close relationship. I started out just talking to them and throwing whole peanuts (roasted, unsalted) on the ground while I was doing it. They looked at me warily and did not come close. Later on, the peanuts would disappear, but I was nev…
I love this. Thank you for sharing. I’ve always found crows and ravens to be majestic birds, even with the reputations they have. Thank you for being kind to them.
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#47Why though? There are dozens of crows in my neighborhood. If I befriend crows will they come to expect food from me? What about the pigeons and seagulls? Will they come to resent me? My policy on neighborhood birds has always been neutrality.
Neutrality might be a smart choice in a suburban neighborhood unless you like the idea of guard crows: https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/ki6fnd/oregon_...
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
Oh man, cows are awesome. They're smart, lovable, and even playful. And when they reach a certain age, they're even edible . What's not to love?
I was under the impression that, like chicken, cows became less edible as time passed?
I don't think his comment meant "edibility rises linearly with age." I think it meant "it reaches a peak" and implicitly "and then declines from there."
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
Advice/Accounts on how to befriend crows has been submitted here in the past, but there hasn't been anything regarding cows, unfortunately. https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...
IMX cows (they are all domestic, locally) treat anyone with thumbs as a potential source of food. They like licking hands and under-the-chin or cheek scritches; move slowly and talk, and if they're skeptical try crouching to make yourself smaller. (but don't make mothers suspect you're after their calves!) Anyone know about bison?
Unless they're domestic bison, it's probably illegal to approach them. And unwise.
Re: How to Befriend Crows
#50All strategies here are about food, I don't think feeding any kind of wild animals is good
We wouldn't have non-wild animals if noone had started feeding them.