Ravens stealing eggs

[nayalusa]

We just found out that at least 2 ravens are stealing our eggs on a daily basis. I looked online for tried and true remedies but didn't find anything definitive other than one post that said a lady used a rat trap with a fake egg taped to it. I don't want to accidentally catch either of these birds in a rat trap. I would feel awful. Anyway, my husband has an idea...:
1. He's going to put out fake easter type plastic eggs
2. Then spray the eggs with pepper spray ( I also thought maybe to fill the egg with an aversive food but they eat almost everything right?)
3. He will then lay in wait for a raven to appear and will be armed with my sons airsoft gun
4. Next let the raven get to the egg so that he/she gets pepper spray on him//her
5. Then start firing the airsoft at the raven like crazy.

He's hoping that somehow this barrage of the senses might deter the raven from coming back and encourage it to tell his friends about it so they don't come back. haha. I've heard they're smart but I'm not sure about this.

Any other creative suggestions from personal experience that actually stopped egg stealing ravens?

 

[Odelia]

How is the raven getting inside your coop? Do you free range your birds and there is not run?

 

[centrarchid]

I do not think Ravens can taste pepper. Most criitters beyond mammals may not be able do so. I have a similar challenge with American Crows stealing eggs from breeding pens. The crows only worked pens without a rooster. My setup has most pens without a rooster on a given day so another approach adopted. I broke the crow's line of sight on nest contents and made so crow could not perch in location it needed to be in when probing with bill. Simply placed a sack over opening that hens would readily push through or around. The crows do not like going into such tight places where they can not outside behind them. They are very smart but also claustrophobic.

 

[nayalusa]

How is the raven getting inside your coop? Do you free range your birds and there is not run?

Yes they have a fenced space but it's large(50x100)and uncovered.

 

[nayalusa]

I do not think Ravens can taste pepper. Most criitters beyond mammals may not be able do so. I have a similar challenge with American Crows stealing eggs from breeding pens. The crows only worked pens without a rooster. My setup has most pens without a rooster on a given day so another approach adopted. I broke the crow's line of sight on nest contents and made so crow could not perch in location it needed to be in when probing with bill. Simply placed a sack over opening that hens would readily push through or around. The crows do not like going into such tight places where they can not outside behind them. They are very smart but also claustrophobic.

Thanks, in addition to sitting out this morning with Airsoft guns and peppering fake eggs) we also hung a towel from the eave and draped it over the egg box where they've been breaking in. I think your theory of obstructing line of sight might be right because I happened to have the entrance obstructed this winter with a piece of plywood so I could leave the doors open without snow blowing in and the Ravens do not go in the front. Rather they use the back where o can lift a hatch to collect eggs. They almost broke the box actually. In addition to the draped towel I stacked a few old hay bales around the box where they'd tried to pry it open. We'll see. My son would really like a reason to take a shot though. ) thanks.

 

[nayalusa]

Update: Thank you for the suggestions. We ended up doing a little of everything. We blocked the line of sight to the egg box hatch with a hanging towel, put a cinderblock weight on top of the outside hatch. We also put out fake plastic eggs out in the yard and let them steal a fake egg so that he/she was hopefully disappointed. I still saw the large one fly out of the chicken yard the other day when we got home. Nothing taken but it may take a while and a few different deterrents to get them to lose interest. Thanks again.

 

[Akrnaf2]

Use a scarecrow! I think that if you will billed a good scarecrow or use a mannequin, dressed up like a man whit something flapping in his hand (a plastic bag?) and frequently place changed, it will keep them away!
You can also use old C.Ds hanging by a thread, and placed in the area were the chickens is roaming.

 

[animals1981]

if ravens leave hawks and eagles move in


im not sure why but there are no crows around here i see a lot of hawk action on other birds sharp shinned coopers red tail i see them daily almost

no crows to give up theri hiding spots i guess