Pigeon Deterrent – Control Devices, Spikes & Gels

In this guide, we’ll be talking about pigeon deterrents, including spikes, repellent sprays, gels, sounds, and other control products for prevention.

There are so many loveable creatures in this world and birds are among the most loved ones. There are so many bird species out there, and one of the most common domestic birds are pigeons.

As cute as these birds are, they could be a real problem around your home, especially when they occur in large numbers.

Keep reading!

Why You Would Want To Use A Pigeon Deterrent?

Pigeons are not harmful birds and generally do not bother humans, yet they can be very problematic.

One of the major problems associated with pigeons around the home is their droppings. These white-colored splatters will leave stains on your floors, rooftops, windows, and cars.

Pigeon droppings may be easily washed off car windows, but it damages car paint. Imagine the damage as many as 10 to 20 pigeons will do with their droppings on your vehicles and the mess they would cause in your yard.

Another problem with pigeon droppings is that it can lead to bacterial and fungal infections, especially among young children and elderly folks. If you live with minors or elders in your home, then pigeon droppings should be of major concern to you.

6 Common Deterrents For Pigeons 

Luckily, there are several means by which you can get rid of pigeons and deter these birds from perching around your home. Killing the pigeons is not an option, as they are being protected by law.

There are other harmless means by which you can scare them away or deter them.

We will be discussing these below.

Pigeon Prevention Spikes

Pigeons are fond of perching on rooftops, and fences on rare occasions. If the landing spot is comfortable enough, then they will keep perching on your roof and will remain a problem.

However, if you were to make landing difficult for them, then they would explore other landing spots. One of such means to keep pigeons from landing on your roof is by using bird spikes.

There are many types and sizes of pigeon deterrent spikes. The one you go for would be determined by the size of the bird you are trying to deter from landing around your yard.

The type of bird spikes you will need to deter pigeons have to be tiny and very pointy. Remember, pigeons are not large birds, so using large-sized spikes to deter them will no work. This is because for a bird that small, landing on a large spike would be easy.

On the other hand, tiny sharp spikes would prick the pigeons as soon as their legs make contact with them and they will not be able to perch there.

You should install the bird spikes in the areas where the pigeons are most active. Recommended areas include around the edges of your rooftop and on the branches of garden trees if need be.

Use Balloon Predators

Pigeons are far from the bravest birds in the world, they get scared easily and you can use this to your advantage.

Like all living creatures, they will stay away from predators, or environments where they suspect predators might b lurking. Having this in mind, one of the most efficient ways to deter pigeons from flocking around your yard is to use balloon predators.

A balloon predator is a life-size balloon that looks like one or more natural predators. These could be balloon snakes, hawks, or owls.

The balloons are usually colored with the same natural colors that the real-life predator has. They also carry the same features, such as wings, tails, teeth, and general looks. The major difference of course is that they are not real.

You can visit a home improvement store near you to buy as many as you would need (although 2 or 3 will do just fine). Inflate the balloons and string them up to your roof.

While strung up, the wind will keep them moving and pigeons to land on your roof will be scared off at the sight of the dummies.

Another tip is to buy regular balloons and use them to deter the pigeons. All you have to do is inflate the balloons and paint large colorful eyes and a wide-open mouth on them. The larger the balloon you use the better.

When the pigeons see such scary “creatures” dangling from your roof, they wouldn’t risk landing as they would be afraid they would be attacked and eaten.

This is a very cheap method of pigeon deterrent and it is pretty effective. To get the best results, you can constantly change the positions of the balloon dummies along your roof. This will give the pigeons a stronger impression that the dummies are alive and can attack.

Use A Real Predator Bird

Dummies can work well in deterring pigeons from landing on your roof, but over time, pigeons may realize that they do not move beyond a certain position or they do not make any natural predator sounds.

If they observe this, they may become bolder as time passes and begin to try their luck. If a few of them land and nothing happens, then others would follow suit.

This is where a real predator bird comes in. A dummy might be confusing for a pigeon, but they are 100% sure of what a real live hawk is.

Live predator birds can be used to keep pigeons away from your roof. Among these birds, two of the most effective are hawks and falcons.

Pigeons are extremely scared of larger sized birds and would want to stay as far away from them as possible. These prey birds do not only use body movements to scare the pigeons away, they also make sounds that are threatening.

You can buy a prey bird and keep it in your home, but there are many factors you have to consider first.

A prey bird is expensive to get and will require proper care. First of all, due to their size, they cannot be kept in confined spaces. You must provide adequate space for them so they will be able to move freely and not feel like they are in captivity.

Secondly, these prey birds have large appetites so you must keep them well fed at all times.

If you can handle the responsibility that comes with keeping a prey bird, then you can proceed to get one (or more) to deter pigeons from landing around your home.

Pigeon Deterrent Sounds Via Alarms

As we have mentioned before, pigeons are not brave birds and will flee when they hear quick, sudden sounds. An alarm triggered by a motion sensor would do the trick.

All you need to do is buy one from a home improvement store and install it on your rooftop. When the sensor picks up pigeon activity on the roof, it will set off the alarm and the pigeons will fly away immediately.

Think of the scenes in the movies when a gun is fired and all the pigeons fly away. That’s exactly what will happen when an unexpected alarm kicks in.

Their sense of “flight” or “flee” is very high, so this method will work very well in deterring them.

Pigeon Deterrent Gel

Bird gel is a revolutionary product that can be used to deter several varieties of birds from landing on your property. It is made with food-grade oils and it is completely non-toxic.

It can be used to deter pigeons without causing them any physical harm. It is also eco friendly and affordable.

The good news is, bird gel can last for as long as two years, and that’s a long time to keep the pestering pigeons away.

This is how it works.

In the eyes of the birds, the gel gives off a UV (ultraviolet) light which resembles flames. The gel also smells abhorrently to the birds, and this acts as an extra deterrent.

Bird gel isn’t just effective in the home, it can also be used in commercial spaces such as railways, airports, bridges, and construction sites.

Use Chimes

Chimes are also an effective tool to deter birds from landing in your yard. They bare a bunch of glass/crystal-like sticks that make noise as the wind blows, clinging along with each other.

Most small birds, including pigeons, do not like noise and are most times scared by it. If there is constant noise in your yard, then the pigeons will feel uncomfortable landing there.

You can visit a home improvement store near you to buy chimes and install them in critical areas around your home. Target the areas where pigeons are most likely to land and fix the chimes there.

These areas include along the roof, your fence, or by the gate.

As effective as this may be, the major challenge would be dealing with all the clinging noises the chimes make. If you can deal with the noise, then you’re good to go.

Conclusion

Follow the pigeon deterrent tips provided in this article to keep pigeons off your property without harming them.

Thanks for reading.