How To Get Rid of Pigeons From Your House

When pigeons start looking around for viable spots to build nests, to them our buildings are equally viable as the trees if not better. With fewer and fewer natural habitats for pigeons due to mass deforestation, pigeons naturally select areas with the best chance of survival.

Because pigeon problems happen because of humans, as a result, it can seem wrong to harm pigeons for doing what they do naturally. Hence, humane management is a better option for repelling pigeons.

Pigeons are scavengers attracted to the large amounts of food and rubbish waste left around by humans. These wastes allow the pigeons to flourish which makes our vicinity a very good area for pigeons in terms of survival. 

Don't let garbage pile up or leave them uncovered in the open. Clean the common pigeon roosting areas regularly and remove all food scraps, pet food, and garbage. This alone might not be a sufficient measure but it's an essential step that needs to be taken for them to stop returning to your locality. 

Plant or place bushy plants that have thorns or spikes in areas where pigeons like to gather. Whether in your garden or a flower pot place them near your balconies, these spike-containing plants deter them naturally by creating an area of potential hazard and avoidance.

Plants such as roses or holly are ideal for this purpose as they are both thorny, non-picky, and thus easy to maintain. Even if they won't flower easily as on your garden, that wasn't they will still keep the birds away all the same.

Sounds can be used as an effective deterrent against pigeons. Place radios, hang wind chimes, or other noise-making devices to make your property less attractive to pigeons. Additionally, propane cannon shows more immediate and tangible results.

One major benefit of this is that they can be used across larger areas where excluding physical birds through the placement of objects is not practical. However, birds can acclimate to these sounds thus this measure must be used in combination with other methods to ensure longer effectiveness.

Here's a true tried and tested traditional method of repelling pigeons. Mixing cayenne peppers mixed in with some water. Spicy pepper with vinegar, chili powder, black pepper, or cinnamon with water also works equally as well. 

Pour them into a spray bottle and spray along the areas where the pigeons are commonly roosting in your home or areas where they are likely to roost. The strong smell of these spicy solutions is highly offensive to pigeons but you must repeat this frequently and after rain to deter pigeons.

If you don't want to handle spices or they smell equally offensive to you, an alternative presents itself in the form of a modern take on spicy deterrents. Get peppermints, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil, and turn these strong-smelling essential oils into a water solution.

Some may recommend using mothballs however we strongly advise against them as they contain toxic pesticides that can seriously harm children, pets, and people. Mothballs may work initially but the pesky birds will get used to them soon making them ineffective.

If your area contains birdbaths or any other sources of water are free to be accessed by the pigeons. Remove them or keep them covered when not in use as they bring the attention of the pigeons to your property.

It doesn't matter how good your deterring, obstructing, or repelling measures are if the pigeons have a reason and an incentive to keep coming back. These birds not only clever but persistent as well.

Redirect the pigeons away from your home or the wider sections of your home by offering them an alternative in the form of a designated roosting area. This can help divert them away from roosting in more problematic spots of your home while also being humane.

Attach metallic nest frames to an electric pole and ideally be the highest structure nearby additionally, this also prevents birds from being electrocuted by wires. Or you can place roosting wooden birdhouses and fill them with grains as feed. 

A simple trick that can be utilized to get rid of pigeons naturally without hurting them is to take advantage of their psychological responses. Use old tennis balls and place them on sticks or the ends of a fence post. 

Pigeons have evolved a remarkable, 340-degree vision and can see several kilometers away. To ensure their survival, they are always on the lookout for predators, thus they naturally believe that round spherical shapes are the eyes of a predator. Brightly-colored balls which can be seen from farther away are even more effective.

If you have already planned to get a pet or aren't opposed to getting a pet, get one. Just the mere presence of a dog or cat in your house can serve as a natural deterrent to pigeons. Of course, adopting a pet is no small decision and we do not suggest this lightly.

If you are unprepared to take care of these four-legged friends steer clear now, animal neglect is a major problem faced by many pets in the states and we do not want to heap more animal abuse to solve existing abuse.

From amongst the repertoire of natural and passive pigeon-friendly measures, if what you seek is a more direct intervention to control pigeons, our experts propose attaching a sprinkler with three arms and a heavy-duty weighted base on your garden hose.

Sit near a pigeon roost and activate it when pigeons are nearby. Better yet, if you buy a Wi-Fi-controlled hose or motion-activated sprinkler, you can have them activate when you're out of sight to more effectively surprise the pigeons and drive them away harmlessly. Ensure your hose has gentle water pressure.

If our previously suggested solutions on how to get rid of pigeons from roof naturally don't work out for you due to a variety of factors or the birds getting acclimatized to them. Then understandably it might be time to bring out the big guns, not literally of course.

Exterminating pigeons can be illegal and get you into trouble depending on your local city and state laws which is why we're not going to recommend such measures. Instead, take a look at these expert recommendations for repelling pigeons.

If you are still looking for more ideas, you can also use other commonly used methods to deter pigeons such as an owl scare, hawk scare, or a black cat scare. These scares are small figures made of rubber that you can hang up on various places pigeon roosting areas.

Pigeons are wary of predators and these may trick pigeons into running away. Alternatively, you can also include rubber snakes, fake bird statues, or for extra realism, bird kites. These can be effective for the short term but will eventually be acclimated to. 

Try and figure out how the pigeons are getting onto your roof. If you have any holes or cracks that can be used as an entry point, seal them up with some wire mesh or caulking. You can also try installing a physical barrier like a wire fence around the perimeter of your roof.

Take care to ensure that the holes which are to be blocked are not for ventilation or weeping holes which help in draining water out of your house. Avoid using sealants instead of wire meshes in those spots.

Install bird spikes on ledges, roofs, and other surfaces where the annoying pigeons like to perch or roost. These spikes are perfectly legal as they are made from plastic and designed to deter, not injure. They are harmless and work by creating an uncomfortable surface for pigeons to attempt to land on.

Therefore, they can effectively prevent perching and nesting humanly without causing any injury. Well, the aesthetics of the house might get injured but that's a sacrifice that we're willing to make to ensure a bird poop-free house.

A different idea along the same line of thinking is to use reflections of light to scare the pigeons away. Hang some old shiny objects from your attic like CDs, aluminum foil, or reflective tape around your house.

Aluminum foil should be made into the shape of a pie tin can to maximize its effectiveness and deter pigeons from your balcony. The reflecting light from these objects is thought to disorient the birds while in flight.

Bird-proofing with wires is another example of utilizing hostile architecture to deter the birds. Parallel wires work by placing running parallel across the structure which prevents pigeons from landing and wire coils can be utilized to deter pigeons from perching on rails.

Furthermore, wires are also appropriate for roof designs that incorporate nooks. However, unlike plastic spikes, wires can also act as a physical deterrence barrier against burglars instead of just being an unsavory aesthetic. 

Making use of a bird net is yet another method that can leave somewhat of an unsightly sight but everyone who has used it can definitely vouch for its effectiveness at keeping pigeons out of certain places.

Prevent them from getting into areas where the pigeons are most likely to roost such as your balconies and eaves by creating a net barrier that prevents the birds from flying in and nesting.

Using lasers against pigeon populations can be a cheap and effective pigeon deterrence solution by using the piercing laser light to disorient and hinder the eyesight of the pigeons while they are scouting an area for nesting or roosting. 

Use low-power lasers as the goal is to create discomfort for them in the local vicinity humanely rather than maim them visually. While initially effective, if you don't get rid of pigeon attractions, they may keep returning back and eventually become accustomed to the lasers and dodge the light.

Pigeons have a greater range of hearing than humans and are sensitive to ultrasonic frequencies which is imperceptible to humans. Thus installing small ultrasonic sound devices that transduce imperceptible ultrasonic noise is a good idea as a discreet solution that doesn't disrupt your house aesthetics.

They also cover a good distance often not requiring more than one device and are low maintenance as they use a very small amount of power. Unlike many other solutions that can be acclimatized, pigeons will not be able to get used to this device.

A cheap yet effective solution is to get pest control humming tape that is UV stabilized and made of polypropylene. On top of their light-reflecting ability, when they are strung tightly between two fixed stakes, they vibrate and emit a penetrating vibration with a slight breeze that is avoided by these pests. that birds (or rabbits and other pests) won't go near. 

Originally an anti-bird implement for protecting farms, they are a simple, durable, and harmless implement that can humanely repel pigeons, other birds, and even some animals. 

Bird-and-animal repellent spray solution is a wonder of the industrial world when it comes to pest deterrence. Originally intended for keeping farm produce safe, it is a water-soluble aluminum ammonium sulfate powder that helps keep unwanted birds and animals away from the treated area.

It remains active for up to eight weeks after being applied with no harmful residues although it can be washed off by heavy rain. It is not harmful to birds, animals, plants, or humans when used as directed.

Before you buy any bird-repelling gels, check its type. There are two types of bird gels, one works by reflecting ultraviolet light, and another works by creating a sticky surface. While the sticky surface gels are non-toxic and harmless to pigeons as they can break free of the sticky chemical which causes a mild but deterring discomfort.

The sticky version is often banned in many cities as they can immobilize smaller avians such as shallows and bats. The one that reflects ultraviolet light is the one you want as the lights trigger the flight response of pigeons and is quite humane and popular.