Step 4: Routine and Patient Interaction

Timeframe: 2–5 weeks
(depending on many external factors)

Goals for this Step

– The crows accept your hand moving close to the food
– They associate the click sound with a reward
– The distance is reduced to about 50 cm
– You can identify at least three individual crows

Milestones / Checklist

– Place one peanut at a time about 50 cm from you
– Keep your hand visible and steady
– Use the click sound right before releasing the peanut
– Note which crow takes which nut

Warnings / Points of Attention

– Move slowly – avoid sudden arm movements
– Don’t look directly at the crow; look away or close your eyes briefly
– Remove leftover food to maintain focus
– Stop training if the birds seem nervous

Feeding Guide

Allowed – preferably avoid sugar, salt, and fat
(Remember: crows are omnivores and will eat almost anything, but always choose the healthiest options)
– Unsalted peanuts
– Hazelnuts
– Dried mealworms

Allowed in small amounts:
– Buckwheat
– Pumpkin seeds
– Blueberries
– Pea shoots

Not allowed / Avoid completely:
– Salted sunflower seeds
– Marrow bones with seasoning
– Biscuits or crispbread
– Sweet treats like candy or cake

Tips & Tricks

– If you try hand-feeding, use a flat palm or turn your hand upside down and offer food between your fingers
– Keep each session short (around 10 minutes) to maintain their interest
– Reward the boldest crows first – the others will learn by copying them

Bonus Knowledge

Social learning: When one crow dares to approach, others often follow.
They learn through peer learning, copying the success of the first bird.
If an attempt fails, you might notice that all of them stay away for a while — stay calm, they’ll return soon.
Just as they copy success, they also copy hesitation or fear from others as a way of staying safe.
Once the first crow dares to approach again, the rest will follow its lead.

Document Your Progress

Take photos or videos, write down your observations, and check off your milestones as you go.

Join My Beginner Course in Crow Friendships

To read all 10 steps and learn even more about crows and their fascinating world.

In the course, you’ll also learn about:
– Differences between the various crow species
– Ethics and legal aspects in Denmark
– Healthy, semi-healthy, and unhealthy crow food
– Tips and tricks about crow behavior
– Crow calls and body language
– Play and seriousness among crows
– Fascinating crow rituals
– Access to a crow community with chat, discussion, and cozy sharing
– Knowledge and links to other crow-interest networks