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How to Get Rid of Pigeons
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Pigeon Identification
Commonly found in large flocks, pigeons are usually grey in color and can be identified by their pinkish-red feet and a pair of black bars visible on their wings. Their natural diets consist mainly of seeds and grains, but they will eat almost any scraps provided by humans (bread, french fries, crusts, garbage, etc).
Health Risks and Property Damage
Like most birds, pigeons can carry fleas, ticks, or mites. It has been argued that they also carry diseases which can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with either the birds or their feces but these reports seem to be largely unsubstantiated. Their droppings however can damage the paint on your car or the finish on a building, and their highly-flammable nesting materials can clog up drains and vents.
Pigeon Control Methods
Nature follows the law of least resistance. Unless your problem with pigeons stems from overpopulation, making your building or home harder to nest on or in than most of the other buildings or homes in your area should cause them to stick to easier targets. This section delves into each available method of doing this.
If you’re considering poisons, traps, or other lethal measures to kill the pigeons, you should first check with you local authorities to see what control methods are legal and how to implement them safely.
Pigeon-Proofing
The first step in getting and keeping pigeons out of any particular area is to make it as inhospitable as possible. Pigeons prefer to nest in high, out-of-the-way places like awnings, rafters, ledges, and attics. Search your property for any places that would make a good safe haven and seal them off using screens, fillers and plates. Flat, open areas can be protected by employing a tactile repellent (discussed below).
Pigeon Deterrents
There are many methods of deterring pigeons; the one you pick should be based on your unique requirements. Following is a brief explanation of each:
Tactile Repellents
A tactile repellent is any device or substance that can deter a pigeon from landing on or touching a surface. Examples of these include:
- Anti-Roosting Spike Strips – These spike strips can be attached to places a bird might perch to make it less attractive as a landing strip. They can be found online and at many hardware stores.
- Chemicals - Chemicals can also be used, the most common types are either sticky and uncomfortable for birds to perch on, or can produce pain on contact with their feet. These are specialized products and can be purchased in most places that specialize in pest control.
- Do-It-Yourself - A surface or perch can easily be made unusable with a little ingenuity. High, tight loops of chicken wire, modifications that turn a level surface into a sloped one, automatic sprinkler systems, and electrified wiring/fence kits are all good examples. Browse your local home improvement store for anything that looks like it would fit the bill.
Scarecrows
Scarecrows have been used for ages to keep birds away from crops. Scarecrow types that deter pigeons include owls, snakes, cats, and people. The key to using one of these successfully is to make it appear as lifelike as possible. Move it from one location to another every few days. A scarecrow that moves either randomly or responsively is usually more effective then one that does not. Windsocks that are made to look like animals can work well so long as there is enough wind to keep them ‘alive’.
Ultrasonic Repellents
Ultrasonic repellents are commercially available for every possible pest you can imagine, and for every pest we’ve researched they have been found to be complete failures at repelling any of them. Pigeons are no exception. Don’t waste your money on one of these.
Relocation
Trapping and relocating a pigeon is a complete waste of time. Even if you release the bird hundreds of miles away, it will still be able to find its way back home in no time flat (It might even beat you back!).
Professionals
If you’re sick and tired of fighting an army of pigeons by yourself, calling a professional pest control expert is a good choice - especially if you are considering lethal measures. Professionals will know all of the local laws and be able to pigeon-proof your property legally, humanely and effectively. Make sure you ask for references and speak to others who have successfully used a professional to eliminate their pigeon problem.
I also had fogot to mention one other important fact to my problem. The pigeons in my back yard do not crap in my back yard. They eat all the food I give to the other birds and the squirrels and then they fly away to only return the next day.
Water gun does not effect them because my husband made a sling shot to get rid of them. They fly and circle around and return to my back yard. These pigeons just give me the finger and still do what they want to do. They have zero fear.
I just want them gone because they are multipling daily and they eat to much food that it is to expensive to feed the wild life I want to feed. I just do not want to stop putting out food because I have a very larg back yard and to watch the wild life is of beauty. I tried feeders, but the pigeons just band together and knock it down and eat. For pigeons they are pretty damn smart and fearless. I hate them.
Any solutions; reasonable soultions that do not require death.
Thank you.
I do not have a tip, but am searching for a reasonable solution to my pigeon problem.
I do not live in the city I live on Long Island and I have never notice pigeons, except a few years ago.
All the solutions to this problem will effect all of my welcomed wildlife that I feed and I do not want to loose all the birds and the squirrels. I only want to loose the pigeons because they continue to grow in population daily and they eat way to much that it is now becoming to expensive to feed the wild life that I want to feed.
Everyone that I have spoken with that feed the wild life does not have a pigeon problem except for me and I do not know why.
Does anyone out there have a solution that will not effect the other wild life that I want and enjoy feeding?
Thank you.
P.S. I do not want to shoot the pigeons because to me that would be very cruel because they are a living and breathing thing.
Cut outs of cats will not help because the pigeons are not afraid of cats and / or people. Cut outs of owls, hawks, and etc. will only effect negatively the wild life that I want in my back yard.
Well its not the best trick but my building has 5 pigeons that apparently were born there (somewhere on the building generations ago before my time) I,ve heard once that happens they are imprinted on the location. So I got soo mad at their cooing that i bought one of those super water gun blasters that shoot about 10 feet. every time i see them i dose them, they are smart enough to fly away just out of reach, BUT they don’t bother me too much anymore, still once or twice a week, but mostly they annoy my neighbors, but most of them have followed my lead and gotten a water gun, so slowly they are spending less time at our building. Not so funny story, a pigeon sat on balcony, I sprayed and sprayed but it wouldn’t move, I got super close and it flew off, but left behind an egg, I grabbed it and tossed it off the balcony - a second to late to realize the egg was very wet- AGGGHH fresh pigeon ass on my hand….UGH!! I hate these these dirty infested creatures…..
We brought a holiday cottage on a beautiful island where the previous owners had erected a dovecote,(fools!) complete with pigeons that Sh#t all over the roof, on the verandah, on the windows, over the door ways…..our first holiday was spent shovelling mountains of crap away and scraping it off every surface within a 3mtr radius of the house. we knocked over and removed the dovecote,complete with birds and nests inside,the bastards came back! Tried the bird tape, what a joke, they perch next to it! Tried feeding them rat sack,they ate it, didn’t die though! Throwing stuff pointless. What to do?
Oooo, UMM I don’t have a tip, but i wanna share a storyy! Ok, so here’s what happened. It just scared the hell outta me when I went to the balcony of my apartment, just to watch the view, and find a fking pigeon sitting on a nest of two eggs in the corner. Even though it was so TOUCHING to see that a little creature was nursing right next to my home, it started getting out of hand when one of the eggs hatched a few days later. CRAZYYY!! The little baby looked like a CHICKEN!! wtff aren’t they supposed to be black or something?? >.> Well, I’ve never experienced this.. EVERR!! So lol that’s my story, and that’s how I ended up here.. =]
Nothing deters these little devils! Owl, cd’s, windchimes, kites, scarecrow. None work!!!! We have a double dose of trouble with our flying rats! Nasty old woman next door feeds them (she said she will not stop)and the neighbor behind us is growing grapes. Needless to say, the bastards, eat the grapes and them drop their purple droppings on the white deck around my pool. The spots are near impossible to get out! I have 2 kids at home and am constantly scrubbing down the deck in fear of the cooties that are being spread.
My biggest problem is that they sit on the telephone wires. What the heck can I put in and around my yard that would keep them off the wires? Have tried squirting them with the hose, but unless I sit in my yard 24/7 that doesn’t work. ANY SUGGESTIONS????
I really have no tips we are in need of removing pidgeons from an old service dept. an open covered iron bldg. it is perfect for them if only they could pay rent!!! I have read all i can but there are no real fixes too many places to use spikes which work well and I dont see the owl or a plastic snake repeling the great number of them we have. I can’t bring myself to kill em although the flame thrower guy had a good point. what do I do ???? Help me with any input please
Looking for a way to rid myself of birds, pigeons etc. Neighbor feed them and my pool in on their flight plan and a target for everyone with loose bowels. I’ve hear feeding them “white rice” works as it sticks in their crops and swells up when they drink…wise tail or usefull measure??….please advise.
I’ve put a bunch of old cds on the balcony where they (used to) hang out. The rainbow shine of the cds scares them away!
The worst thing is, that, in my neighboorhood there are (old)people who actually feed them every single day! so there’s no way they will ever move. And the tip with scarecrows works, I have a plastic T-Rex on the window and ever since they wont come near!
I have been reliably informed that a weasel or ferret would gladly help in eradicating the flying vermin. I have a new neighbor who has 200 of the blasted things!! So anyone who would rent out a weasel or ferret please, please, please let me know!!