The Do’s & Don’ts of Pigeon Removal

Birds are most often harmless creatures that play a crucial role in the natural ecosystem. They can, however, be quite a nuisance as unwelcome occupants of a residential or commercial property. Pigeons, in particular, can infest your home and its environs, resulting in a great amount of damage while increasing the risk of disease spread. You may need the help of expert pigeon removal services to relocate these uninvited birds.

Pigeon Damages

Many homes and businesses are plagued with a pigeon problem. Below are some of the damages and risks you can avoid by removing pigeons from your home.

Pigeon Droppings

Pigeons excrete highly acidic droppings that can accelerate the deterioration of your roof and home siding. If left to accumulate, these droppings may cause roof leaks while increasing the chances of the roof collapsing. The droppings can also accelerate the fading of car paint finishes and leave unattractive white splotches that are difficult to clean. Bird droppings also cause damage to air conditioning equipment, industrial machinery, solar panels, and insulation.

Pigeon excrement also carries several dangerous fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Histoplasmosis, a pigeon-related disease, is infamous for causing chest pain, fever, body aches, and extreme fatigue. Pigeon droppings can also transmit Psittacosis and Cryptococcosis; these two infectious diseases cause symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and respiratory pain. A Pigeon control service can help curb the spread of these serious illnesses.  

Pigeon Nests

Pigeons tend to build nests in rain drains, gutters, and the underside of roof corners. These simple yet sturdy nests are a common cause of blocked roof drainage systems, resulting in serious structural problems. The clogged drains cause water to accumulate on rooftops, increasing the risk of roof collapse.

Pigeons’ nests often comprise straws, twigs, paper, leaves, and dried droppings, which are easily combustible. These flammable materials can readily ignite and cause fires, especially when built inside meter boxes or machinery.

Pigeons can also build nests in air ventilation systems and chimneys. Such nesting can easily spread bird-related diseases throughout your home or block the flow of refreshing air. Blocked chimneys put you at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Pigeon Noise

Whether alone or in a group, pigeons are notorious for making annoying cooing noises for hours on end. These sounds often end up disturbing the serenity around your home and may wake you from a well-deserved afternoon nap. Businesses facing pigeon infestation are at risk of severe financial implications when both clients and employees face constant distraction by pigeon noises.

To help you deal with an invasion, here are a few dos and don’ts of pigeon removal.

Do Nots: Pigeon Removal

Pigeons are intelligent animals that can be tricky to eliminate. A few don’ts to cross off your pigeon control options include:

No DIY Chemical Solutions

Numerous chemical bird repellents exist that can deter pigeons from invading your home. Unfortunately, there isn’t a guaranteed do-it-yourself way of applying them without putting your health at risk. Without the proper protective equipment and safety protocol, you risk skin contact and inhalation of the toxic repellents. Luckily, with the help of extermination experts like Budget Brothers, you can safely consider chemical repellents as a pigeon removal solution.  

No Noise Deterrents

Although pigeons have an acute sense of hearing, there is a common misconception that you can easily use sound to scare them off. City pigeons are specially adjusted to the noisy city lifestyle and may temporarily fly off at a sudden blaring noise, only to come back to the same city buildings after a few minutes. You can try appliances that produce pigeon distress calls and predator sounds, but this solution isn’t guaranteed to work for long.

To Do: Pigeon Removal

A few of the pigeon deterrents you can take to stop pigeons from occupying your property include:

Patch Holes

Pigeons will take advantage of gaps and holes to enter your home and successful pigeon control starts with pigeon deterrent. Engage in humane pigeon removal by sealing possible entry points on the side of your home or between roof shingles to limit pigeon entry. You can use plastic bird netting or hardware cloth to seal off the attic and space above your rafters. Trimming the tree branches that grow next to your roof helps discourage pigeons from exploring ways to enter your home.

The birds also love to roost in chimneys, where they may end up nesting which leads to a pigeon infestation. You can manage the pigeon problem by capping the chimney with a stainless steel mesh that prevents pigeon entry while allowing smoke to escape freely. The mesh is a great humane deterrent you can tuck over and under possible pigeon nesting sites like air conditioning and electric meter units. You should leave the wall scaling and mesh installation process to experts if you lack the necessary tool and experience.

No Feeding

Some bird control solutions are relatively simple. Avoid providing pigeons with a food source or setting up bird feeders or bird baths on your property. These birds have great memories and tend to come back to known food sources. Also, remove and clean up any open trash and food scraps that encourage the pigeons to feed.

Hire a Pigeon Removal Service

Consider hiring a professional pigeon control expert to deal with pigeons around your home. Depending on the invading bird species, the professionals will properly and safely relocate the birds to proper habitats. To prevent future infestation, the pros can help bird-proof your home with pigeon control products.

A popular pigeon-proofing measure involves installing anti-roosting bird spikes in spots where pigeons enjoy perching. The prickly pigeon spikes prevent the birds from perching by reducing their foothold on your roof, balcony, or handrail. You can also install weatherproof string in roosting spots to prevent the pigeons from finding the perfect balance.

Placing sloped plywood, metal, or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sheathing helps create a slippery surface that nesting pigeons cannot perch on. You can place the angled surfaces on windowsills, eaves, ledges, and any flat spot the pigeons frequent. Visual bird repellents like plastic falcons, hawks, owls, and coyotes can also discourage any pesky birds from lingering too long on your property.

Installing reflective tape or foil balloons can also deter pigeons from your residence. These objects reflect light into the bird’s eyes and interfere with their vision. The right pest control company can get rid of pigeons using professional bird control solutions. 

Pigeon Removal With Budget Brothers

As a homeowner, failing to deal with large pigeon problems may cost you avoidable financial expenses and put your health at risk. When pigeons invade your house,  Budget Brothers is only a call away to help you take control. Contact us today to employ professional pigeon removal services.