Video Chapters

00:00 – Predator protection with crows and ravens on the homestead
00:59 – DIY wooden crow feeder tray base from scrap wood
02:58 – Crow vs raven differences in behavior and tail shape
04:00 – How to build and assemble a crow and raven feeder box
06:33 – Naming our DIY crow feeding station: “The Crowbar”
08:30 – How to attract crows to your yard with a fence-line feeder tray
09:17 – Flock names explained: murder of crows, conspiracy of ravens, unkindness of ravens
11:00 – Crow gift giving: using shiny objects and gold spoons to attract crows
13:37 – Homestead chicken coop check and spotting ravens around the property

If you’ve ever wondered do crows bring gifts, you’re not alone—I’m testing that exact question right here on our little homestead in Ontario, Canada.

We already have plenty of backyard crows in Canada hanging around our place, so I decided to lean into it instead of fighting it. With predators lurking around the chicken coop, I’m hoping the local ravens and crows can become unlikely farm helpers.

To experiment with how to attract crows in a way that’s fun and a bit different, I built a simple “Crow Bar” from scrap wood and set it up near the chickens. It’s basically my homemade crow feeder in Ontario—part science experiment, part homestead entertainment.

The idea is simple: offer them things they might like, learn more about crow gift giving behaviour, and see if I can turn the regular traffic of ravens and crows on the homestead can help keep hawks and other predatory birds away from chickens into something positive.

So I loaded up the Crow Bar with shiny springs, metal bits, tin foil, and a few gold-colored spoons. If they’re going to fly off with something, I figured I might as well give them the option to bring me “gold” back.

At the same time, I’m watching what happens around the chicken coop. There’s a theory that a steady presence of ravens and crows on the homestead can help keep hawks and other predatory birds away from chickens. If this works, my crow feeder setup might pull double duty: keep the flock safer and maybe earn me a few surprise crow gifts.

So now the Crow Bar is officially open for business, and every day I take a quick walk over to see what’s gone missing, what’s been left behind, and how the crows are behaving.

Is this really how to attract crows and turn backyard crows in Canada into allies for a small homestead?

Will the crows take the shiny stuff — and will they bring me anything back?