Pigeon Control - The How To Guide

Pigeon Control

Pigeon ID
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).

Risks to Your Health and Potential Damage to Property
Like most birds, pigeons can carry fleas, ticks, or mites. It’s been disagreed that they also carry illnesses which can sometimes be broadcast to humans thru contact with either the birds or their feces but these reports appear to be principally unsubstantiated. Their crap however can cause damage to the paint on your auto or the finish on a building, and their highly-flammable nesting materials can block up drains and vents.

Pigeon Control Methods
Nature follows the law of least resistance. Unless your difficulty with pigeons is derived from overpopulation, making your building or home harder to nest on or in than almost all the other buildings or houses in your area should make them stick to simpler targets. This section digs into each available plan of doing this.

If you are thinking about poisons, traps, or other deadly measures to annihilate the pigeons, you must first check with you local authorities to see what control techniques are legal and the way to implement them safely.

Proofing Yourself from Pigeons
The first step in getting and holding on to pigeons out of any precise area is to make it as inhospitable as practicable. Pigeons would like to nest in high, out-of-the-way places such as covers, rafters, ledges, and attics. Search your property for any places that would make a brilliant protected paradise and seal them off using screens, fillers and plates. Flat, open areas can be guarded by employing a tactile repellent.

Pigeon Dissuasives
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:

Deter a Pigeon
A tactile repellent is any device or substance that will deter a pigeon from landing on or touching a surface. Examples of these include:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

How to use a Scarecrow
They have been used for ages to keep birds away from crops (Learn how to make a scarecrow). 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 total waste of your time. Even if you release the bird lots of miles away, it will continue to be capable of finding its way back home in virtually no time flat ( it’d even beat you back ).

Hire a Pro
Will know all of the local laws and be ready to pigeon-proof your property legally, humanely and efficiently. Make sure you ask for references and talk with others who’ve successfully used a professional to eliminate their pigeon problem.

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