It’s about 18 days from egg laying to hatching, then 20 - 40 days for the fledglings to leave the nest, so in about two months we’ll probably be hearing the frequent loud squawks of the fledglings around town, bugging their parents to beak feed them even though the food is right there on the ground ready to eat.
What do you mean by “it becomes a thing”? What happens if you don’t continue feeding them or if you only feed them irregularly?
They hang out around the outside of your house, wait for you to come out, squawk to get your attention, follow you around the neighborhood. If you don’t remember to have treats on you, you feel guilty.
If you enjoy it, it can feel like you’re a druid communing with animals, but if you decide you don’t like it, it could feel like you’re in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Crows have good memories and they tell their offspring about people they like and don’t like. They may just stalk you and wonder why you stopped feeding them.
It could also become a burden depending on your income level and how often you feed them and how big the local murder is. It’s not expensive, but I’d just recommend anyone who wants to get into it be prepared for the cost.
Thanks, man. I think I’ll do that!
How do you recommend feeding them? I imagine starting out by leaving a tray wouldn’t help them associate it with you but would they just ignore you if you start tossing peanuts on the ground?
I started out getting their attention by making noises. Once I knew they were aware of me, I tossed the food into a flat area where they could easily collect it all. Once they realize you’re good for food, it won’t take much effort to get their attention. They start looking for you and will fly up when you come outside. I’ve had them swoop very close to me to get my attention if I hadn’t noticed them yet when I’m outside. They’ll also caw to let each other know that you’re there, so more will fly up. Sometimes there’s one that will stay in a tree overhead as a watch if there are cats or other possible dangers in the area.