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How To Get Rid Of Pigeons

Having an infestation of any pest in your home is an unpleasant experience. Pigeons can be a real nuisance with their fouling and noise. We hope these tips on how to get rid of pigeons help you if pigeons are a problem in your home and garden.

Methods To Get Rid Of Pigeons

Professional pest controllers with experience in getting rid of pigeons will use a variety of methods. Which one to use depends on several factors including where you are experiencing pigeon problems and the extent of the problem. If it is clear the problem is originating from another property close to yours then working with the owner should ensure that you don’t have to do very much because the problem will disappear! Pest controllers will use several methods that can be used with varying degrees of success by homeowners including:

Netting including the Bird-Scape® netting system

Properly fitted netting will keep out even the most persistent birds and it will last for many years. Although you can buy netting and fit it yourself, it is unlikely to work in the long term. There is the risk of pigeons becoming trapped under the net because it has not been correctly fitted with adequate tension and fastening to stop this from happening. Bird-Scape netting is for professional installation only

Sprung Wire Systems

More discreet than netting, sprung wire systems are available for the DIY enthusiast to fit. However, to work effectively and not become a safety hazard, professional installation is always recommended.

Bird spikes

Bird spikes are commonly used on parapet walls, ledges, rooflines, windowsills, signage, and other narrow surfaces that birds land on. They come in different grades, sizes, and material compositions. Given many are installed on window ledges the DIY fixer must have the right safety equipment as well as experience using extended ladders whilst applying the spikes.

Electrified shock track systems

Electrified shock track systems are another discreet ledge and rooftop system. They are an alternative to bird spikes and are effective in deterring all species of birds. Inferior systems can be bought on the internet but can prove to be a waste of money due to incorrect fitting and the poor quality of the product.

Birds of prey

Roosting pigeons and other nuisance birds often come back to the same area even after an intensive clean. A bird of prey released at random intervals by a professional, combined with other treatments, can ensure that your home remains free of nuisance birds.

How To Get Rid Of Pigeons – Without Harming Them

It is illegal to kill pigeons or any other wild bird species due to the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981. This means that pigeons can only be repelled using measures that will not harm or kill them. We hope these tips on how to get rid of pigeons will help if you are attempting DIY at getting rid of pigeons without harming them.

Please do not hesitate to our pigeon control technicians if at any time you require expert advice and guidance.

How To Get Rid Of Pigeons From The Roof

Pigeons will be attracted to places with food and plentiful areas to nest on offer. Once settled on your roof and effectively out of reach they’re hard to get rid of. So, if you have pigeons on the roof don’t be disappointed if your best efforts fail and you ultimately call in the professionals. But in the meantime, you can:

Talk to your neighbours!

Are neighbours unwittingly worsening the problem by leaving out food for the birds on bird feeders and on the grass etc in their gardens? Pigeons will help themselves to the food that falls from feeders they can’t perch on because they are designed for small birds. If water sources are provided for garden birds these will be accessed by pigeons. Find out the extent of this problem because the likelihood is that your neighbours will want to become involved because they are likely to be experiencing the same problems as you.

Have your roof checked and repaired

Pigeons can enter your loft space via broken or missing tiles, and you may not be aware of the condition of your roof.

Have your solar panels inspected?

Again, pigeons can find safe spaces on your roof under your solar panels so they should be inspected, and any guano (bird droppings) cleaned as this attracts pigeons. Always ask a professional to clean these high-risk areas.

How To Get Rid Of Pigeons From Your Garden

Pigeons are attracted to your garden because you are unwittingly providing food from several sources for them. So, ensure outside bins including compost and food waste are not advertising food scraps because pigeons will find these and will return. Tamper-proof lids and regularly inspecting for food items that have spilled onto the floor helps.

You may have to stop feeding smaller garden birds because pigeons will hover underneath the feeders and will happily take the leftovers that fall from them. Or invest in feeders that contain the leftovers.

Remove water sources in your garden – including fixing dripping taps.

Clean up after yourself! When the sun is out, so are we, dining in our gardens with snacks, BBQs, and tables groaning with food. It’s tempting to leave the clearing away until later but don’t. Pigeons will feed on the leftovers.

Clean up their mess because it attracts other pigeons. Pigeon fouling is unpleasant and can cause a range of health problems if handled in error by a person. If the fouling on outside areas of your home (not public spaces) is not too bad, you can clean the area but use a mask that covers your nose and mouth plus safety glasses. A high-pressure spray using an over-the-counter disinfectant should work. Ensure pets are kept inside and humans too whilst you are doing this.

Look at the exterior of your home with a critical eye to identify gaps and spaces that could be providing access areas to pigeons. Do you have the right skills and equipment to tackle those hard-to-reach areas especially on the roof? Personal safety must always come first.

Within your home and garden, the best deterrent often lies in the cleaning and restriction of access to foodstuffs, water, and nesting materials.

Can DIY Methods of Getting Rid of Pigeons Work?

Unfortunately, the answer to this in most cases is a resounding No! So, concentrate instead on removing the food sources mentioned earlier because this will reduce the number of pigeons in your garden. If you can remove their sources of food and water and, after several repeat visits this remains so, they are likely to go elsewhere. What you’re not able to get rid of, however, are the pigeons nesting in your roof eaves, in your loft space, and on your window ledges. That’s because these pigeons have made these areas their home.

Don’t compromise your safety and the safety of your family, pets, and wildlife when going down the DIY route. Investigating roof voids, the eaves of your building, etc to examine where pigeons are roosting, nesting, (even dying when injured), should only be undertaken by a professional.

Please be aware too that if you’re considering the DIY approach to remove pigeons humanely from your property once they have become familiar with any DIY deterrent it’s business as usual. They will return. It could mean a lot of work for very little to show for it.

Important note when considering DIY: disposing of dead pigeons

This can be the most unpleasant part of a DIY approach. When surveying a home with a pigeon problem it is not uncommon for our technicians to find several dead or dying pigeons in the roof spaces. Injured or ill birds seek dark spaces in which to hide.

You must remove any pigeons as soon as you find them. Failure to do so will lead to unpleasant smells and an infestation of flies. Please talk to your local council about permitted ways to dispose of dead pigeons as it will vary.

Why An Expert Is the Best Solution

Our London-based team of skilled and trained experts have decades of experience removing pigeon problems for London businesses and homes – safely and swiftly. We offer value for money and 100% peace of mind. That’s because we get it right the first time. We’re regarded as the leading pest control company in London for safely and effectively proofing homes and businesses from pigeons and for removing them without harming them. 

Our specialists are trained and qualified to the highest levels established by the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA Level 111). Abseiling is a proven, flexible, and cost-efficient way to access those hard-to-reach locations in your home where pigeons are present and causing damage. For the homeowner, it is a lower-cost alternative to scaffolding.

How Much Does It Cost?

It is not as expensive as you may think. However, we can’t give an estimate because the cost of removing pigeons humanely from your home will vary based on several factors that we will discuss with you before agreeing on any work. We always provide a fixed price quotation and will happily talk you through it.

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