Pigeon Control Explained

Pigeons are a real nuisance when they choose to settle on your building. As the most common species of bird found in UK towns and cities, they’ll often group together and start nesting in inconvenient places.

One of the biggest problems of having a large group of pigeons on your premises is fouling. Pigeon fouling not only looks unsightly but it can also cause other health-related problems too. The spread of diseases such as Salmonella and E coli as well as other respiratory and intestinal problems are not uncommon as a result of pigeon droppings.

For this reason it’s essential to deal with a pigeon infestation sooner rather than later. Whilst it’s illegal to use any pesticide on birds of any species in the UK, there’s a range of effective solutions available on the market that will deal with the problem of bird infestation effectively and humanely.

Pigeon control solutions

Below are the three most common solutions used for pigeon control in the UK -

Netting — Netting is a very effective way to prevent pigeons from landing on your property. A big advantage of using netting is that it comes a range of sizes and colours so it doesn’t have to disrupt the look of your building. It’s also very easy to cut and install in areas that might be difficult to treat with other solutions. It’s barely noticeable from a distance and is a very long lasting and effective solution that will prevent pigeons from perching, nesting or roosting on your building.

Wire & post — Wire & post is a simple but effective way to prevent pigeon infestation. A set of posts are attached the area where you want to keep clear, either by drilling them into the building fabrication or using clear adhesive where possible. A wire is then connected to the posts to prevent pigeons (or any other birds) from being able to land there. This is a good solution for getting rid of a medium to heavy group of pigeons. It is very subtle and cannot usually be noticed from ground level and will provide years of effective bird control with minimal maintenance.

Spikes — Spikes are another effective means of dealing with a pigeon infestation. They can be placed using adhesive and set in rows to ensure the maximum level of coverage. The downside to spikes is that they are more unsightly compared to the other solutions but in cases where there is heave infestation and other solutions are not viable, spikes can be a very effective way to tackle the problem.

Bird Free optical fire gel — Some pest control companies are now moving towards using more technically advanced means of dealing with pigeons and other nuisance birds. Bird Free optical fire gel emits an ultraviolet light, which birds associate with fire and will therefore not want to land where it’s used.

Author Bio

The author’s company provide a range of humane and effective pigeon control solutions to customers through the UK. His posts on the subject inform property owners on the options available for dealing with different types of bird infestations.