I've done some searching and still haven't been able to hone in on an answer. My problem is pigeons. For some reason, these damn birds seem to feel right at home on my house and garage (unattached). I thought I ran them off for good last Spring when I re-roofed both structures and did some more work on the 3rd floor porch, where they like to nest and hang out and crap everywhere.

Well, I went back up to the porch to do some more work recently and found that the pigeons had returned and were in the process of building a nest. I destroyed the partially-completed nest and worked on the porch for a day. I'll be darned if early the next moring I went up to do continue the work and the freakin' birds had actually began to rebuild the nest already!

I've had enough of this crap (literally), and so I have formally declared war on the pigeons. The only problem is, I don't know what tactics to use to fight them? On account of neighbors' homes being close by and lots of little kids all around, I'm prohibited from using any sort of gun, whether it be pellet, BB, 12-gauge, whatever. And I really don't need the entire neighborhood cordoned off and a SWAT team breaking down my front door, either. So any kind of firearm is not an option. I've tried the fake owl trick and it doesn't faze them anymore (probably never did).

So does anybody know any products or have any tricks I could try to get rid of them dang birds? TIA

 

too bad you cant use a gun, i have heard using those wind wheel things that are shiny, and also i have heard if u put a small radio up there, you can rap it in a plastic bag or something just play music or radio station through that. if that doesnt work call animal control see what they say.

 

Take away their nesting areas and perches. They can't build a nest if there is no place to wedge sticks etc.

 

That's actually part of my plan Eric, I've added the task of boxing off the front pillars to the list of repairs I've got going up there, it's the area where they seem to like to set up shop, right in the corners where the L-shaped pillars meet the wood sides and front rail (~4' high).

But I'm wondering if that's enough to get rid of them for good, based on their demonstrated stubborness. I thought maybe some kind of animal scent or something like that might spook them enough to not want to ever come back.

When I look up and see them sitting on the very top of my brand new roof ($$ ouch) peering back down at me, I swear I can almost see a smirk on their faces.

 

Make it so a cat can get up at the nests etc.

 

Get a piece of plywood (the size you need) and drive 3 1/2 spikes every 2 inches.Then when your done,put it up were there sitting (upside down,so sharp point of nails face up).With the nails there they wont land there.
I got the idea from a local home depot.They have long 6 inch barbs every 3 inches or so and it seems to be keeping them off of there eves.
Good luck.

 

I've had success with a couple of products. I've used Nixalite strips which are 2 foot long strips of stainless steel needles (120 to the foot). I've got them wire tied around the weatherhead where the power lines enter. The birds seem to love building nests there and pooping down the side of the house. They work well on surfaces where you can staple or tie them. Just be prepared to bleed a little when you install them. The buggers are sharp!

The other product I've used is Bird-X. It's a clear, sticky goop that comes in caulking gun tubes. Think silicone caulk thet never drys. I use it on the aluminum framework of an aluminum awning. Birds wont land in a surface covered in goo. The only down side is that it eventually dries out in 2 or 3 years and you need to remove it with mineral spirits and re-apply. Bird-X also makes a sprayable liquid version but I haven't tried it since its only claimed to last a year or so.

 

I've been using this trick for years. Mix bird seed and Cement together about 50-50, place up where they like to gather...................no more birds! My problem here on the ranch was Starlings, HUNDREDS of them, not any more!

Once they eat my "treat" it PLUGS THEM UP......................=DEAD

 

I LOVE it!

But I guess it depends on where you live. Here in NYC, if the flying rat lovers, oops..., bird lovers, find a bunch of dead pigeons and they can trace it to you "poisoning" them you wind up in a cell with "Bubba". Years ago a local mall across the road from the landfill put poisoned grain on the roof to solve a gull problem. A bunch of people wound up paying a bunch of money in fines.

 

check with pest controll companies, I have heard that you can use laser light to run them off.

 

oatmeal + cement = dead rats/mice too

 

Tell that to Taco-Bell

 

We use Mylar balloons or streamers around here. Even with a slight breeze the movement makes the birds anxious and leave. If you can keep them away until nesting is over. You just won. They will not come back next year. Of coarse that's only the pigeonal family. Who knows if the pigeonesse family will move into the neighborhood. Now they are a rough bunch. haha

 

The local park where I live became a haven for geese several years ago.A local wacko became their protector and got the name........mother goose.....go figure.Anyway geese can be aggressive and they bit several people.One of them was my then 18 month old daughter.The offending goose quickly met a steel toed work boot worn by the childs father.Said goose didn't survive the encounter.Mother Goose saw it and called the law.I wound up at the magistrates office but the charges were dropped.By then the magistrate had enough of Mother Goose and her flippin geese.The town council hired an outfit that humanely removed them.

 

pigeons??? no problem, i dealt with those stupid things for 2 years when i lived in london, uk.

here is what i did, and it worked, at least for me it did. along my balcony ran some wire so they could never land there, solved that problem.

then it was onto the rest of the balcony, i got the little spinner things and just put them in the plant pots, that kept them away good, but not all spots, the other spots i hung some tape, like from the inside of a cassette tape, and it kind of moves around a bit, it scared them away.

i didn't have any trouble with them afterwards.