Pigeon spiking, wires and nets are effective at dissuading pigeons from roosting or nesting. Your property also needs to be kept in good condition. Any large enough hole in your roof or walls can provide a nesting opportunity for a pigeon, and perfectly replicates the crevices where wild rock doves make their nests.
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Table of Contents
Pigeon Guano
Cleaning Equipment
Quick Tip
Before removing pigeon droppings first soak the affected area with water to prevent the creation of dust whilst cleaning the droppings up. If you are unable to soak the droppings to eliminate the dust then simply wear a dust mask. Also did you know pigeon droppings are a great fertiliser, why not use them on your garden?Cleaning Pigeon Droppings - Overview
This guide on dealing with pigeon droppings has been written for the benefit of people who do not clean up pigeon droppings for a living such as pest control officers or people who might keep pigeons as a hobby. These people are likely to come into contact with dry droppings on an almost daily basis and will probably want to carry out a more extensive risk assessment.
Cleaning of droppings, in a bird control context, is the removal of bird guano (bird excrement) from the exterior of a building prior to the installation of deterrents, or the removal of pigeon droppings from the interior of a building following the exclusion of pigeons. In both cases it is important to remove guano, but for different reasons.
When installing deterrents on the exterior of a building it is critically important to ensure that all areas are cleaned thoroughly prior to the installation of anti-perching products to ensure that the products will adhere to the surface upon which they are installed. When excluding pigeons from a roof void or similar internal area of a building it is important to remove any build-up of pigeon guano to stop smells and reduce the potential for insect-related problems for occupants. Although some commercial contractors will offer the client cleaning works on the basis that guano can be a health hazard, in reality cleaning is for aesthetic and practical reasons rather than to control disease.Much is made of the potential to contract a disease from contact with pigeon droppings, but this is often over exaggerated and the likelihood of a human being contracting a disease from contact with pigeons or their excrement is very low and certainly no higher than having contact with your cat. In the main it is the media that have perpetuated this hype for profit. The media needs to sell newspapers and the pest control industry needs to sell its services. In both cases the public is sometimes misled. Most experts are of the opinion that human contact with pigeons and/or their excrement is no more harmful than contact with a caged bird or any other family pet. The only way in which pigeon guano can usually have a detrimental effect on human health is where an individual who has a pre-existing respiratory condition comes into contact with very well dried guano. In these cases it is possible that the inhalation of dust, created when well-dried guano are disturbed, may irritate the bronchial passages. In almost every situation 'dampening down' the droppings with water before the commencement of cleaning will prevent the creation of dust. If you are unable to soak the droppings to eliminate the dust then simply wear a dust mask.
Excessive Soiling
from Roosting
Pigeons
As the two most common guano-related problems will require a different approach we will deal with each problem separately:
Cleaning External Areas of Pigeon Droppings
The most common guano-related problem is the soiling of external areas of a building as a result of overnight roosting (and breeding) and/or daytime perching (where pigeons are using a building as a vantage point to exploit a food source). Of the two problems, overnight roosting/breeding problems are the most serious, normally resulting in much larger quantities of pigeon droppings being present than with daytime perching. This is because when pigeons are exploiting a food source during the daytime they are constantly on the move, checking each of their numerous feeding sites and never spending long on one site. When the birds are roosting, however, they are static for anything up to 16 hours depending on the time of year. In the summer months they may only be in their roosting sites for 8-10 hours, but in winter it can be as long as 16 hours and in some cases even longer.
The type of soiling also varies depending on whether it is a result of daytime perching or overnight roosting/breeding. Soiling resulting from daytime perching tends to be random and spread over quite a large area, although on buildings that overlook well-used bird feeding sites guano-related problems can be quite extreme. Soiling from overnight roosting/breeding tends to be found in large piles directly below the perches that the birds have been occupying throughout the night. Cleaning pigeon droppings from a roosting site tends to be easier than cleaning guano resulting from daytime perching as it is generally found in one or more specific areas and in quantity. It is also the case that if pigeon droppings is being removed from a roosting area prior to the installation of anti-perching products it will be considerably easier to identify areas in which to install the products based on the location of the guano. It is quite possible for one building to experience both daytime perching and overnight roosting/breeding problems, but this is less common. In most cases pigeons will not roost and feed on the same site unless open-ended food sources and optimum roosting/breeding opportunities exist.
Apart from aesthetics, the main reason that pigeon droppings must be removed, and the area thoroughly cleaned, is to prepare surfaces for the installation of anti-perching products. In most cases property owners will have been alerted to the fact that they have pigeons perching on their property as a result of soiling-related issues on the fascia of the building. Once pigeon occupancy problems have been identified the next logical step is to protect those areas with deterrents. In these circumstances a pest control contractor will normally be called in to advise, but a growing number of property owners are now undertaking their own pigeon control works courtesy of the availability of both information and products via the internet. Many property owners assume that by calling in a specialist contractor they will be offered a high-quality service, but this is not always the case. Some contractors completely fail to undertake any cleaning works prior to the installation of anti-perching products. Thorough cleaning works must be undertaken prior to installing anti-perching products, particularly where products such as anti-roosting spikes are concerned, which are normally fixed to the surface to be protected by silicone gel.Anti-Roosting
Spike Installation
Once a health and safety risk assessment has been carried out, and the appropriate health and safety equipment and access equipment has been purchased or leased, the areas to be cleaned must be thoroughly inspected. It may be necessary to protect all areas that have the potential to be used for the purpose of perching as once the pigeons have been displaced from their existing perches they will very probably just move to an adjacent area on the same building. If anti-perching products are to be installed following cleaning works, these products must also be available on site with all the necessary fixings, such as silicone gel if anti-roosting spikes are to be used. The installation of deterrents should take place as soon as all the surfaces have been cleaned and thoroughly prepared.
Pigeon Guano from
Overnight Roosting
It is an offence to interfere with a nest or its contents and therefore, before taking any action to remove a nest, with or without eggs or chicks, permission must be sought from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Once the relevant permission has been sought and given the nest and contents can be removed. If there are live squabs in the nest a wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted with a view to handing over the young birds to be hand reared. This service will be free of charge. A national list of wildlife rehabilitators, in a county-by-county format, can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/europe/uk/rescue/rescue.htm
Once access equipment and protective clothing has been sourced, a health and safety assessment carried out and once all nests have been removed cleaning works can begin. There are many cleaning products available that are designed for use with pigeon droppings, but whether they are actually needed is questionable. There are two specific types of cleaning solutions used to clean pigeon excrement: branded ornithological disinfectants that are designed to kill bacteria and organisms and simple cleaning agentsthat are just designed to clean. The conventional non-bacterial cleaning agents are worthless and can be replaced with a strong household cleaning agent at a fraction of the price. Bacterial cleaning agents can be useful but they are unlikely to make any difference when used to clean guano in external areas.
The only exception to this rule would be in situations where large quantities of well-dried pigeon droppings exist in external covered areas close to residential accommodation. Wet pigeon guano presents no risks whatsoever to human health unless it is ingested or found on pathways where it could cause a slip hazard. The main application for bacterial cleaning agents, therefore, would be for use in internal areas and following the removal of large quantities of pigeon droppings. For the majority of applications a bucket of hot soapy water with a splash of household disinfectant makes an ideal cleaning solution for use after the removal of guano but for further peace of mind you could use Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant cleaning spray.
Cleaning pigeon droppings is no different to any other type of cleaning work in external areas and large areas can be cleaned extremely rapidly providing the right equipment is to hand. For the removal of well-dried guano from windowsills, ledges and architectural features a paint scraper is an ideal tool. It may be helpful to spray the guano with water prior to removal as this will not only soften the guano and make it easier to remove but will also reduce the amount of dust created when the guano is disturbed. Once all the pigeon droppings have been removed from the surface it can simply be washed down with a scrubbing brush and hot water. If installing deterrents in the area subsequent to cleaning, special attention must be paid to removing all guano, debris and lichen. Once the area has been thoroughly cleaned it must be allowed to dry completely before installing deterrents. Deterrents should be installed as soon as the surface has dried to ensure that no further soiling takes place.
The most commonly asked question when removing pigeon guano from a site is “what happens to it?” Many commercial cleaning companies will suggest that pigeon droppings is classified as hazardous waste and must be disposed of accordingly, but this is not the case. The Environment Agency has confirmed that small quantities of pigeon guano can safely be disposed of in a domestic dustbin/wheelie bin or in the commercial equivalent. Small quantities of guano can also be disposed of, by the property owner, at a council-run Tidy Tip facility. The Environment Agency also confirm that large quantities of guano can be disposed of in a standard skip, providing that the company used is an ‘Authorised Waste Carrier’. Virtually every company renting skips in the UK is an Authorised Waste Carrier. When the skip is taken away the property owner will fill in a ‘Transfer Note’, which asks for details of the quantity of waste being removed, the type of waste and the date. The information provided on this form will direct the driver to dispose of the waste at an authorised facility. The Environment Agency can be contacted on 08708 506 506 or by visiting the Environment Agency website at the following address: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/.
Probably the easiest method of disposing of pigeon guano is to put it on your garden. Pigeon guano is renowned for being the optimum fertiliser for gardens and vegetable crops. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries pigeon guano was a highly prized commodity, not only because it is a superb fertiliser but also because it contains saltpetre, an essential ingredient of gunpowder. In fact pigeon droppings were so highly prized that armed guards were placed outside dovecote facilities (large commercial-sized pigeon houses) to prevent the theft of it!
Further information on the identification of a pigeon-related problem and how to deal with it is available in a document called DIY controls that can be found via the left-hand margin on the home page or by clicking here.
It may also be helpful to read the Cleaning and Sanitising product/service review, which can be found in the ‘Product Reviews’ section or clicking here. This document will provide a basic overview of the various products and cleaning agents available for use with guano.
Cleaning Internal Areas of Pigeon Droppings
The term ‘internal areas’, in the context of this document, refers to any building, derelict or occupied, commercial or residential that has pigeons or other birds roosting and/or breeding within it. The roof void is one of the most commonly used internal areas by pigeons for the purpose of here. This might be an attic space in a domestic residence or a large void within the roof of an industrial building. In both cases pigeons are drawn to roof voids because they are dry, secluded areas where human presence is rare. Pigeons can be found in huge numbers in roof voids, even in occupied homes and buildings, without the owner ever being aware that they are there. In many residential properties pigeons will exploit a slipped roof tile to gain access to a roof void and if there is no internal access to the roof void from within the property it is possible that birds may roost and breed unnoticed for many years.
It is in derelict buildings or industrial units that large flocks of roosting pigeons are normally found. In some cases the volume of excrement produced as a result of years of roosting and breeding activity will be so great as to actually bring the internal floors down within the building. Incredibly, the last time the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle was accessed for the purposes of removing pigeon guano a total of 12 tons of guano was removed, all through one small manhole cover and in plastic sacks! This is, of course, an extreme example, but nonetheless it demonstrates just how entrenched guano-related problems can become if they are ignored or if they go unnoticed.Disposable Overalls for
Guano Cleaning
Protective Clothing
job of this nature is virtually nil. A risk assessment will confirm what level of protection is required and the options range from a basic paper face mask through to a full face mask with breathing apparatus. It may be helpful to read the ‘Cleaning and Sanitising’ product/service review, which can be found in the ‘Product Reviews’ section or clicking this link. This document will provide a basic overview of the types of protective clothing (and cleaning products) available for this type of work.As well as a face mask, a full body disposable suit with hood will be required. Rubber gloves should be worn at all times and hands should be washed thoroughly before eating or drinking, thereby requiring that washing facilities are available on-site. Goggles are a sensible precaution and a good pair of boots or wellingtons is essential. When working in enclosed spaces (particularly in roof voids) and during the summer months, temperatures can be extreme and therefore regular rest breaks should be taken as exhaustion can set in very quickly, particularly when wearing protective clothing.Nitrile Rubber Gloves
Before starting cleaning works a detailed site inspection must be undertaken to highlight any potential dangers for workers (particularly when working in derelict buildings) and to establish whether there are any nests with pigeon squabs in situ. In a large-scale roost it is almost certain that there will be. Nests will normally be found on the floor and rarely at height so it is important to take care when walking the site for the purpose of assessing it. Once all the nests with dependent young have been identified a wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted with a view to handing over all dependent birds for hand rearing. For large sites with more than a handful of nests, wildlife groups will normally attend the site prior to guano removal operations commencing and remove all the dependent birds at that time. The cleaning operation will then be able to continue without interruption. It should3-Day Old
Pigeon Squab
It is an offence to interfere with a nest or its contents and therefore, before taking any action to remove a nest, with or without eggs or chicks, permission must be sought from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Once the relevant permission has been sought and given nests and contents can be removed. A national list of wildlife rehabilitators, in a county-by-county format, can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/europe/uk/rescue/rescue.htm.
The actual process of clearing the pigeon droppings just requires hard work and in large-scale internal roosts the best tool is a shovel. Prior to starting to remove the guano a fine jet of water should be sprayed over it in an effort to reduce the dust created when it is disturbed. It can then be more safely removed. Guano should be bagged or wheelbarrowed to a skip and then arrangements should be made to dispose of it via an authorised waste carrier, assuming that there are sufficiently large quantities. Alternatively, if clearing a small amount of guano from a residential attic it can be safely disposed of in a dustbin or wheelie bin or even on a garden or allotment. Guano is a superb fertiliser.
Once the guano has been completely removed the area should be cleaned with hot soapy water and disinfectant or with Germ Clear™ Bird Droppings Disinfectant cleaning spray which is designed to kill any bacteria and organisms that may be present.
Further information on the identification of a problem and how to deal with it is available in a document called DIY controls that can be found via the left-hand margin on the home page or by clicking the following here.
It may also be helpful to read the Cleaning and Sanitising product/service review, which can be found in the ‘Product Reviews’ section or clicking here. This document will provide a basic overview of the various products and cleaning agents available for use with guano.
Few things are more annoying than walking down the street only for a pigeon to poop on you from overhead. Even worse, that poop can cover your car or property in a nasty, slimy goo. Pigeons can also end up hoarding birdseed from more desired species and are generally considered an urban and rural pest.
But fear not, we’re here to tell you how to get rid of pigeons and keep these critters away from your home.
Getting to Know Pigeons
While they’ve always had something of a bad reputation, pigeons have a more noble place in our history than you might expect. However, a growing lack of natural predators has made these birds a nuisance in cities around the world, despite a few species facing (or reaching) extinction due to human expansion.
What Does a Pigeon Look Like?
Pigeons consist of the 310-species Columbidae family. These birds are technically doves, with the rock dove and turtledove being the two most notable species. What exactly separates a pigeon from a dove is almost entirely aesthetic, with scientists usually going by size (doves being smaller), while secular and religious circles consider any dove that’s not entirely white to be a pigeon.
Regardless of which description you choose, all pigeons are edible (in Pittsburgh, PA, they’re even sometimes referred to as “Pittsburgh Chicken”) and have been used as a food animal for centuries. They’re also easy to domesticate, having been the first known bird to be made into pets.
What do Pigeons Eat?
City-based pigeons have become scavengers, giving up their normal diet for any scraps they can find, but generally prefer fruit and seeds. Many species have adapted to eat worms and insects, with at least one species preferring them.
Pigeon Habitat
Depending on the species, pigeons either prefer the ground or trees. However, one thing they all have in common is a habit of building rather flimsy nests out of twigs in which they’ll lay one to two eggs at a time.
These nests are generally kept in the same location the species prefers to roam, with species such as the rock dove choosing high ledges and rooftops when in an urban setting due to the shortage of trees.
On the whole, pigeons can be found in almost every part of the world, save for the most extremely hot or cold regions. Some species tend to be confined to small areas, while others have spread out alongside humans. The single most prevalent species is the rock dove, which can be found throughout the world in large numbers.
The Pigeon Dilemma
Pigeons are extremely resourceful and surprisingly intelligent. As a result, they’ve learned to cope with human expansion and adapt to urban settings easily. Unfortunately, this means they can become quite the nuisance.
Healthy pigeon poop has no smell, but urban pigeons are scavengers and often victim to disease and birth defects. Their poop can get very runny and contain high acidity, wreaking havok on your clean car, windows, walls, and sidewalks. The acidity can even degrade stone, concrete, and other materials over time.
Due to the lack of natural predators, pigeons tend to quickly overpopulate urban and rural areas. They’ll congregate wherever food is available, making it more difficult to attract songbirds. They can be noisy, messy, and go after that pie you just sat out to cool. In other words, pigeons, like relatives, are often best loved at a distance.
How to Get Rid of Pigeons
Getting rid of pigeons is a lot easier than it might first seem, although it can take a bit of time to get rid of larger infestations. Here are just a few of the ways to get pigeons off of your property.
Pigeon Traps
A pigeon trap works the same way as other humane critter traps. Simply set it up, add some attractive food (fruits, vegetables, and cracked corn are some tasty options) for bait, and then wait.
Many of these traps, such as the Tomahawk Pigeon Trap, have entrances on opposite sides, allowing you to catch a pigeon per door before having to empty the trap. Just make sure to transport the pigeons a few miles away before releasing, as they’re pretty good at finding their way back.
Another popular trap is a trigger type trap which catches them in a net. It’s a little harder to set up but you can get the same results at a fraction of the cost.
Pigeons on the Balcony
You can use a slinky or insulation wire on the railing to help keep pigeons from perching there. Simply spread the wire so each loop is about 1.5 inches apart. You can then use duct tape to attach it to the railing at 2/3 inch intervals.
While a simple tactic, pigeons find it quite uncomfortable to land on. Ensure there’s no attractive food source present, and you’ll easily be able to keep pigeons off the balcony.
Pigeons on the Roof
It’s actually not difficult to keep a pigeon from roosting on your roof. The most popular answer is to use anti-roosting spike strips, which can be purchased at many hardware or garden shops. These spikes aren’t sharp, but they make it difficult for the pigeon to land.
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The Truth About Popular Kill Methods
You might hear people suggesting easy ways to kill pigeons, but these methods are not only cruel in intent, they can sometimes affect other species you may not want to kill. Here are three of the most popular suggestions for killing pigeons and why you shouldn’t use them:
- Alka-Seltzer – Despite their old motto, Alka Seltzer will not rescue you from pigeons. This myth was based on the idea that birds can’t pass gas and therefore the antacid would expand until the bird explodes. In reality, however, they can simply regurgitate the foamy mess using the same techniques they use for feeding their young.
- Poison – Poison is a big no-no. Even if you’re trying to feed the target pigeon by hand, it’s an easy matter for a sparrow or other bird to swoop in and snatch the poisoned food. Even worse, leaving poison out for the pigeon exposes every nearby critter to the risk of ingestion and sickness or death.
- Rice – This is a very popular old wives’ tale. Rice won’t kill a bird and is actually part of many species’ diets. Despite what popular takes claim, uncooked rice takes a long time to soak up liquids. By the time it could potentially become a threat to the bird, they’ll have either digested or passed the grains. Use this method only if you really like having pigeons around.
How to Keep Pigeons Away
Simply getting rid of pigeons isn’t enough, as they have a habit of returning no matter how many times you kick them out. Using visual deterrents and chemical or herbal repellents will help keep these pesky critters from turning your home into a gathering spot.
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It can also help to make your property as uninviting as possible by removing those things which can attract pigeons in the first place.
Pigeon Deterrents
As bold as pigeons are around humans, they can easily be scared away at the sight of potential predators. Try placing a ceramic owl or fake snake in places they’re prone to congregate. As with other pests, it’s a good idea to shift these decoys around occasionally so the birds don’t suspect they’re just decor.
A kite with a hawk shape can also be used to scare pigeons away, as they resemble a predator in flight. Foil balloons and other reflective objects can make life difficult for pigeons and other birds, as they have trouble seeing when near these surfaces.
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Further options can also work against other critters, such as installing a motion-sensitive water sprinkler. These are great because it means it waters your lawn or garden at the same time it scares away pests. Sonic deterrents do a great job, but can irritate any four-legged family members, so they’re not for everyone.
See Also: How to Keep Geese Away
Pigeon Repellents
Many predator sprays and crystals will work on pigeons, if the species is a potential bird hunter. These products are either concentrated urine or chemical replications of urine. Pigeons and other pests will get a whiff and believe a hunter is on the loose. However, these products don’t always work and can wash out when it rains.
A homemade pigeon repellent with a great track record can be quite easy to make and works well against a variety of other pests.
Begin by mincing two dozen chili peppers and add them to a half gallon of water. Shake well and place in direct sunlight to ferment for five days. Finally, add 1/4 cup of vinegar to the mix and shake again, then spray your plants or surfaces with it.
The capsicum will irritate a pigeon’s (or other critter’s) feet and discourage them from returning to that spot. Spray every few days to keep the effect going.
There’s a really nice option on the market for repelling pigeons and other birds hoping to perch on your railings. This bird repellent gel can be applied to surfaces, making them either slippery, sticky or tacky. The gel paste won’t harm the bird, but stepping on the texture will drive a bird nuts (have you ever seen a cat step in something sticky?), making them reluctant to land on that spot again.
Removing Attractants
By far, one of the best ways to keep a pigeon away is to make him less interested in being there to begin with. Get rid of any standing water, which can be a means for both drinking and bathing. You will also want to make sure all trash is covered and inaccessible to avoid any free snacks.
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Bird feeders will always prove an issue, although you can purchase designs with small entrances which are only big enough for songbirds to enter. Your garden can also be a problem as there’s no way to hide crops from prying eyes, but you can add netting to prevent pigeons from getting at your tomatoes.