Pigeon Problems - FAQs
Table of Contents
How are pigeons sustained?
Feral Flock of Pigeons
The common misconception is that pigeons are sustained on scraps of food courtesy
of people littering, people sharing their lunchtime sandwich in the park or
as a result of poor housekeeping on the part of fast food restaurants. This
is incorrect, at least in part. Pigeon populations are sustained, almost exclusively,
by
deliberate
and persistent feeding on the part of a small number of individuals, normally
elderly or single people; this single act should be seen as the root cause of most pigeon problems. These people will go out 7 days a week to feed pigeons and
they will not only feed extremely high quality food, such as grain and corn,
but also very large quantities of it.
Monk Feeding Pigeons
In the city of Melbourne, Australia,
one gentleman arrives in the city centre each day and brings in 40 kilos of
prime pigeon food, which he proceeds to distribute at 4 highly sensitive locations
within the central business district of the city. As a result the city centre
flock, numbering many thousands of pigeons, exploit this food source each day.
Based on the British Pigeon Racing Association figures an adult pigeon can
survive on 13 grams of seed each day and therefore, using these figures, 40
kilos of seed could potentially sustain over 3000 pigeons. When taking into
consideration that this food is provided by only one of the many daily feeders
in Melbourne it comes as no surprise that pigeon flock size is as high as it
is.
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So how do we control food sources available to pigeons?
In the main this is the preserve of town and city councils as they are the only
bodies that can be a catalyst for an area-wide
pigeon control system. If you feel that you have
a general problem in your area you should start by protecting your own property
with deterrents. This must always be the first step. Councils may be able
to deal with the root cause of the problem, available food, but they cannot
and will not become involved in the protection of private property. In order
to ensure that the problem is dealt with at source, however, you should
contact your local council and ask them what they are doing to resolve the
problem of available food and the issue of deliberate and persistent public
feeding of pigeons. Many councils are reluctant to become involved with issues
relating to the control of feral pigeons but they have a legal obligation to
do so, certainly if problems have become entrenched and if there is a potential
health and safety problem.
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What type of food will pigeons usually exploit?
Pigeons Feeding at Mosque
Pigeons have learned to exploit multiple food sources and although their natural
diet would be made up of seeds and grains (when in season) they will exploit
virtually any food available to them, including fast food refuse, bread, household
scraps and even worms and insects when there is little or no other food available.
As previously mentioned, however, deliberate feeding is the main source of
food for urban pigeon flocks. Other common food sources include food preparation
Feeding Feral Pigeons
outlets, retail food outlets, granaries, ports where foodstuffs are imported/exported
and grain silos. Pigeon flocks rarely if ever feed in rural areas (exploiting
crops in fields) but when food is in short supply in urban areas some birds
may resort to exploiting this food source. When flocks of pigeons are seen
feeding in agricultural areas these birds are most likely to be domesticated
racing pigeons and not their feral cousins.
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Feral pigeons need very little food in order to survive, but why do
we still have such huge flocks worldwide when pest control companies kill
millions of pigeons every year in control operations?
Pigeon Trap
This is because pigeon flock size is dictated,
absolutely, by available
food. When pigeons are killed during pest control operations the culled birds
will be replaced within a matter of weeks as a result of rejuvenation. In fact,
scientific research has shown that when
culling
is used as a method of control pigeon flock size will, in most cases, increase
above
and beyond the pre-cull figure, resulting in exacerbated problems
for property owners, rather than the reverse. In situations where the food supply
remains constant pigeons will breed 4-6 times a year on average (in optimum conditions
pigeons can breed more frequently), producing two young each time. If, however,
the food source is reduced pigeon numbers will drop accordingly. Pigeons will
not breed
if they are unable to exploit enough food to feed their young. Therefore, it
is clear that many of the methods employed to control pigeon populations are
not only ineffective but they are likely to
increase pigeon flock size.
The most commonly used pigeon control worldwide is
culling which is, alongside persistent and deliberate public feeding, the largest contributory
factor to the
growth of
pigeon flocks worldwide.
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What deterrents
are there that will offer complete protection for a property upon which pigeons
are either roosting or breeding or both?
Defender 8™
Anti-Roosting Spikes
The industry standard deterrent is the
anti-roosting spike.
This product is 100% effective if installed correctly (and in the right area
of the property) and it is not only inexpensive to buy, it is also
extremely easy
to install.
Anti-roosting
spikes can be installed onto virtually
any property by the owner without the need to go to a specialist company – if
you can climb a ladder you can install
anti-roosting spikes.
In many cases commercial property owners can install the product
in-house,but
if the property is a high-rise building or architecturally complex advice should
be sought from the Pigeon Control Resource Centre. There is a huge number of different
anti-perching
Nylon Bird Netting
and bird exclusion devices available and yet it is often the least
expensive product that provides the most comprehensive protection.
Nylon
bird netting is another industry standard
product, but it is extremely expensive to have installed (and in a majority of
cases it
must be installed professionally) and it may only continue
to be effective for 5-10 years.
Anti-roosting
spikes are one of the cheapest anti-perching
products on the market, they can be installed by the layman and they will remain
effective for up to 30 years.
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I have a problem with pigeons – where do I start?
Defender 4™
Anti-Roosting Spikes
If the problem is obvious, i.e. if pigeons are roosting
on a window ledge and soiling the
fascia of the building below, then you can proceed by purchasing
anti-roosting
spikes from the Internet or
from the
Pigeon
Control Resource centre online shop once you have measured the width
and depth of the area that is to be protected. The spikes should arrive with
full installation instructions and if you experience any unforeseen problems
when installing the spikes the Pigeon Control Resource Centre will provide the expert advice. There is one very important point to remember:
make absolutely sure that if there is a recess in which you believe pigeons
are breeding or roosting you should
thoroughly investigate
Juvenile Pigeons
in Nest
the recess prior to installing anti-roosting spikes or before blocking holes
to exclude pigeons. If you suspect that there are pigeons in situ you should
contact a local wildlife rehabilitator in your area who will humanely remove
the pigeon squabs (pigeon chicks) and take them away to be hand-reared and
eventually released. A list of wildlife rehabilitators can be found at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/europe/uk/rescue/rescue.htm
Pigeon Squab -
8 Days Old
Many property owners find that they have pigeons inside their roof void or
attic; in this case it is critical to have the roof void surveyed, ideally
by an experienced person or a wildlife rehabilitator, ensuring that all dependant
and flightless birds are excluded prior to excluding the resident adult pigeons.
It is extremely
Pigeon Squab -
Day 1 Hatchling
important to remember that pigeons breed
all year round and
therefore there will never be a time when you are safe to install deterrents
without first surveying the area to ensure no dependent young are in situ.
Although the height of the breeding period is usually throughout the months
of March through to October, it is not uncommon to see pigeon squabs in nests
in mid-winter. For further detailed information on how to undertake a survey
of your property and how to install deterrents please see the
DIY
Controls discussion document.
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I have pigeons on my roof – can I resolve this problem and if so how?
If pigeons are regularly roosting on a roof it means they are there for one of
three reasons:
Defender Ridge Spikes™
- Because the roof provides them with a vantage point overlooking a well-used
feeding area or a regular food source – possibly a restaurant, fast food
outlet, food preparation or storage facility, sandwich shop or bakery
- Because pigeons have accessed the roof void itself (attic space) and are
breeding within it
Defender Gutter Spikes™
In each case the source of the problem needs to be resolved as it is impossible to protect the tiles of a roof, although the gutter,
ridge tiles, chimney
breast and chimney
pot
can all be effectively protected.
Defender Chimney Pot Spikes™
Some contractors
advise the use of nylon bird netting
for this purpose but netting rarely resolves the problem, it is extremely expensive
to install and can degrade very rapidly when provided at roof height.
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I have pigeons roosting on my TV aerial – can I use anti-roosting
spikes?
Defender TV Aerial Spikes ™
Yes,
anti-roosting
spikes are
ideal for this purpose. The spikes are best installed by using an electrical
cable tie wrapped around the base of the spike and then around the aerial itself.
This will ensure that the spike cannot slip around and end up facing downwards.
Although
stainless
steel
spikes are unlikely to interfere with the TV signal when installed on an aerial it may
be wise to consider a
plastic
spike for the purpose. One UK manufacturer of
anti-roosting
spikes -
Jones
and Son Ltd offer an ingenious kit to protect TV aerials which includes all the different
fixtures and fittings that will be required to protect virtually any type of
TV aerial.
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I have pigeons perching on my windowsill – how do I protect the sill?
Defender Opening
Window Spikes™
are ideal
for this purpose. The
anti-roosting
spikes should be installed on the windowsill itself, assuming
that the window opens inwards or upwards. If the window opens outwards it
will be necessary to attach the spikes to the base of the frame of the opening
window so that when the window
Defender Opening
Window Spikes™
is opened the spikes move outwards as the window
does. Silicone should be used to attach the
anti-roosting
spikes to both the windowsill and the window
frame, but if the window frame is wooden they can be screwed in place as well
as, or instead of, using silicone.
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I think I have pigeons nesting in my gutter – is this possible?
Defender Gutter Spikes™
It is not common for pigeons to nest in a gutter unless it is well protected
from the elements. It is possible, however, particularly in guttering on period
properties with large, wide cast iron gutters. This problem is simple to resolve
using
anti-roosting
spikes in conjunction with a
special
gutter clip. The
anti-roosting
spikes will not only stop pigeons nesting in the gutter but also stop
pigeons perching on the lip of the gutter and fouling the fascia of the building.
A version of the
post
and wire system will often be recommended by contractors, but this system is prone to failure
and will not stop nesting taking place in the gutter itself.
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I have been told to protect my property with nylon
bird netting – is this the
best option?
Wire Mesh with
Attaching Clip
is an industry standard bird exclusion product and is commonly
recommended by contractors. There are numerous problems associated with the
use of
nylon
bird netting,
Nylon Bird Netting
Installation
but the main problems are the cost of the product, the lifespan of the product
and the potential for poorly installed netting to trap birds. In a vast majority
of cases
anti-roosting
spikes
can be used to much greater effect in areas where
anti-roosting
spikes has been recommended. If a
bird exclusion product is necessary, however, and if
anti-roosting
spikes are unsuitable,
Galvanised Wire Mesh
is an excellent alternative.
Galvanized steel
mesh is as cheap as nylon
netting but remains
effective for considerably longer, although the product will
not be suitable for the protection of large areas due to its weight.
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I have birds nesting in my chimney – what do I do?
Chimney Bird Guard
Pigeons do not nest in
chimney
pots
but other species of birds do – jackdaws in particular. The easiest means
of ensuring that nesting does not take place next year is to install a chimney
cowl on your chimney pot.
Round Chimney Guard
This product is cheap to buy and can be installed
in minutes. Always be sure to carry out this installation once the breeding
period has finished. Another option is to permanently block the chimney pot,
assuming that it is no longer in use, with a
chimney
cap. This product, like the
chimney
cowl,
is inexpensive and simple to install.
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I have pigeon excrement on my ground floor windowsills – does this
mean I should protect the sills?
Defender 8™ Anti-Roosting
Spikes (on Window Sill)
Yes,
anti-roosting
spikes are
ideal for this purpose but be aware that pigeons rarely if ever roost or nest
on ground floor windows, so the areas to be protected will almost certainly be
either upper floor windowsills, architectural features or exposed pipework.
Pigeons will normally choose the highest point on a building to roost or nest
and that should always be the first area to investigate.
Anti-roosting
spikes can be installed directly
onto a windowsill or any other surface with
silicone
gel, but if protecting pipework an electrical cable
tie should be tied around both the pipe and the base of the
anti-roosting
spike to ensure that the spikes
do not slip around and end up facing downwards.
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I have pigeon excrement on the ground at the side of my house but
there are no windowsills or obvious perching places
Defender Pipe Spikes™
It is extremely likely that pigeons are roosting on external pipework on the
side wall of the house. Either this or possibly on a small overflow pipe.
Anti-roosting
spikes can be easily installed
on the pipework to resolve the problem. A special ‘
pipe spike’ should be used
for the protection of pipework. The
pipe
spikes should be installed by
running a bead of silicone gel along the top of the pipe and then pressing the
base of the
pipe
spike into this.
An electrical cable tie should then be wrapped around the pipe itself and the
base of the
pipe
spikes to ensure
that the spikes do not slip around and end up facing downwards.
If there is no exposed external pipework on the side of the house it is likely
that the birds will either be roosting under the gable on one of the roof joists
that protrude through the brickwork (and support the roof overhang) or within
the roof space itself or possibly within the soffit. The areas under the gable
can easily be protected using anti-roosting
spikes, but if the birds have entered the roof
space itself the entry hole must be found and blocked once a thorough survey
of the internal roof void has been carried out to ensure that there are no
live birds or nests in situ. The same applies if birds have entered the soffit.
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I see pigeons fly into an area below my guttering and disappear –
do I need to take action?
Degraded Wooden Soffit
It is likely that pigeons have found a hole in a soffit (the box section that
runs under the gutter the full length of the house) and are using the space for
nesting and roosting. The entire length of the soffit board must be inspected
to ensure no live birds are present, with particular attention to young birds
in nests, and then the soffit board must either be removed and replaced or repaired.
As older wooden soffits are constructed with a series of sub-dividers throughout
each span, preventing a clear line of sight down the soffit, it will be necessary
to inspect each sub-division to ensure that no nesting birds are in situ. In
many cases the only way that this can be achieved is to remove sections of the
soffit at intervals and carry out a full inspection. If you suspect that there
are pigeons in situ, or if you find nests, you should contact a local wildlife
rehabilitator in your area who will humanely remove the pigeon squabs (pigeon
chicks) and take them away to be hand-reared and eventually released. A list of wildlife rehabilitators
can be found at: http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/europe/uk/rescue/rescue.htm.
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I have a dormer window on my roof and pigeons appear to be roosting
under the overhang of the gutter on the dormer – is this possible?
Dormer Window
Yes, pigeons often roost or even nest under the overhang created by the gutter
on a dormer window. First check to ensure that there are no live birds or nests
under the overhang and then simply install
anti-roosting
spikes directly to the lead flashing running down
each side of the dormer window. Alternatively,
anti-roosting
spikes can be installed directly onto
the tiles of the roof. The area that will need to be covered is approximately
12 inches from the side wall of the dormer. Once the overhang is protected pigeons
will move elsewhere. Be aware, however, that the birds may move to other more
sensitive areas of the property once excluded.
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What do I do if I find a pigeon nest in an area where I am intending
to install deterrents?
Pigeon Squab in
Nest with Egg
It is extremely common to find pigeon nests with young in situ when installing
deterrents and due to the fact that pigeons breed all year around there is never
a
safe time to do this.
Pigeon Squab -
3 Days Old
If you do find a nest and cannot wait until
the chicks are fledged you should first try to find a wildlife rehabilitator
in your area who may be able to remove the chicks and take them away to be hand-reared.
Pigeon Squabs -
10 Days Old
Otherwise, just monitor the nest until the squabs (pigeon chicks) have fledged
and then install the deterrents. A list of wildlife rehabilitators can be found
at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/acd/europe/uk/rescue/rescue.htm.
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I often read that pigeons spread disease – is this true?
Ornikill Cleaning Agent
It is a misconception that pigeons are capable of spreading
disease to
human beings.
All wild
birds (including garden birds) have the potential to carry and pass on
diseases to
human beings and indeed other birds or animals, but the likelihood of this
happening is virtually zero.
Goggles and
Cleaning Mask
To put the risk into perspective, caged birds
are far more likely to pass on a disease to a human being than a pigeon or
any other wild bird. In fact, it is a commonly held view that salmonella,
one of the diseases associated with pigeons, is far more likely to be contracted
by human beings through eating intensively farmed supermarket eggs or chicken
than through contact with wild birds.
Full Protective Suit
Where pigeon excrement is concerned, if it is ingested it may cause a mild
stomach upset but nothing more. If pigeon excrement is
very well
dried (wet excrement is harmless unless ingested) and if it exists in large
quantities it can irritate the bronchial tubes if inhaled when disturbed.
Pigeon fanciers are at the greatest risk where the transmission of disease
is concerned and if pigeon lofts are not cleaned regularly pigeon fanciers
run the risk of contracting a respiratory
disease as
a result of breathing in the dust that is created when well-dried pigeon excrement
is disturbed. It must be recognized, however, that any individual contracting
a
respiratory
disease from
contact with pigeons must have been exposed to large quantities of very well-dried
Heavy Duty
Rubber Gloves
pigeon excrement for
long periods without the benefit
of
protective
clothing. There
has only been one case, worldwide, of a person dying from direct contact with
pigeon excrement and this was a lady in the Netherlands who had a severe allergy
to it and died as a result of a massive allergic reaction when coming into
contact with a small quantity of it. Common sense measures, such as wearing
gloves,
overalls
and a
face
mask when installing
deterrents, are all the precautions that it is necessary to take. There is
rarely a need to use a specialist disinfectant or cleaning agent when clearing
pigeon excrement and preparing surfaces in order to install spikes – hot soapy
water with a splash of household disinfectant is all that is required.
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