Ravens as pets

[TreyB]

I've been looking at getting a bird as a partner and think i've decided on getting a raven from the corvid ranch next year. Does anyone have any experience with raising corvids? Now im not rushing into this as I have about a year to do all the much needed research but there isn't much on the net about keeping them in captivity. I know this is a parrot forum but im sure some of you might have some knowledge or know where I can get some involving general bird care. Also, if you have some good pics of these beautiful birds I would love to see them. Nice to be on the forum, Trey

[kali]

PM Ashling!!! Mel has raised one and sent it off into the world to fend for itself. she loves them, i doubt you could ask her a question she couldn't answer!

[Ashling]

hehe thanks Kali :)
Ravens are my favorite animal and I had the pleasure of keeping two- one for a short time and the other for 5 months. As pets, they are as smart (if not smarter) than any parrot. The size of their brains, compared to their bodies equals that of dolphins, and they are not only tool uses but tool MAKERS- putting them up there with primates! In captivity, I believe they generally live for about 30 years and are very mischievous.
Morrigan was a wild baby Raven which is a little different from buying one legally and raising it as a pet- though I'll answer any questions I can.
My girl was genetically mutated- she had white feathers on her back and crippled feet- she couldn't fly or perch. I could eaither leave her to be eaten by foxes, be put down at the vets for being crippled, or rear her as best I could so I chose the latter!
She lived in the front yard and was fed three times a day, had a birdbath and lots of bushes to hide in. She even had chickens and wild magpies for company!
I fed her on my own mix of meats, cereals, fruits, veg and egg blended into a mash (as well as insects, mealworms and mince) I'm sure you could find a commercial corvid/ omnivore diet- that would be easier. You can also give them day old chicks, mealworms and mice as treats! My girl loved ripping up a mouse I gave her once. She showed her clever streak when I fed her- She would beg for food, snatch it from me then run off and hide it. She'd then come back and beg again, eat her fill, and have a little store for later if she got hungry!
Even though I did NOT keep her as a pet, (as I hoped I could release her) she and I grew very attached. She would perch on my arm and eat out of my hand. We would sit watching tv together sometimes. I tried to keep our interaction to a minimum, but it was hard. I tried to teach her to fly numerous times, one lesson resulted with her on the roof! One night I couldn't find her and in the morning she was high up a tree. I thought she was stuck so I climbed all the way up to get her, and she flew up to a higher tree. I got on the roof and she flew up the street into an even higher tree! I was deeply saddened but so proud of her- she could fly and perch! She was gone the next day but I swear I can still hear her caw every now and then. I hope my story helped :D

Here's some good links:
Raven's Aviary (or, Birds of a feather...)
The Care of Ravens & Crows
Where can I get a pet Crow or Raven?

[Freedomoflight]

I did not realize you could actually purchase ravens to keep as pets. Interesting!

[Koki]

Native ravens are illegle to keep as pets. You may keep one if you have wildlife rehabilitator's license and the bird is not fit for release.

Exotic (foreign) ravens may be and are kept as pets.

Also, crows, ravens, and jays are all in the same family, i.e. they are as similar to each other as cockatoos, amazons, and lories. so information for one will generally apply to the others.

Here are some links including a forum for crow and raven lovers.

TheRaven's Aviary - Raising a Corvid

For the Love of Crows - Links to Other Corvine Sites

Ravens and Crows :: Care2 Groups (Animals & Pets)

[Nurd_boy]

I looked into it, here in cali it is illegal to own native species (magpies, crows, quail, etc) and some exotics (quakers, rice finches, etc) as pets, you can get a permit in some cases.

African pied crows are ok (but rare)...Iu've seen only one as a pet, ever.

[TreyB]

Thanks and that was an awesome story! I have done some research myself about cages and such. I was told that the cage size isn't as important as long as you take the bird out a few times a day. The guy that im buying my bird from said you can take a large parrot cage and flip in over so that it's more long ways than upwards and that would be "suitable". If I can I would like to construct my own indoor place and a nice outdoor setup for him as well. I would also need a little info on how to go about making my own cage if any of you have done so. Are there any active raven owners on this board? Thanks for ALL your insight and I hope im welcome here once I recieve my little kido.

[TreyB]

The legality issue was the first thing I inquired about and he said that all his birds are DNA sexed and have a bracelet on their leg that can only be add on when they are young birds that they have to grow into to prove it wasn't a wild caught bird. Taking from the wild is a big NO NO as far as im concerned

[Ashling]

The guy you're buying from sounds very responsible. He's right that their cages should be long rather than tall, so they can hop from perch to perch (they can't climb up using their beaks like parrots can!) You don't have to overturn a parrot cage, I'm sure there would be more practical cages, or you could build one yourself. I think a roomy cage would be better for the Raven in the long run, whether you take him out often or not. An outdoor setup sounds great! You sound really dedicated, I think you should go for it! There is a crow owner on the board- lisark.

[jimpierce7]

my first experience with a "pet" bird was a Raven when I was 13. I still swear he really was holding a conversation with me!!!