If you are confronted with pigeons on the balcony, there are a few methods you can use to make a pigeon deterrent yourself. When looking for a pigeon deterrent system in stores or online, confusion inevitably arises. The right product is often difficult to identify. To save yourself this effort and some costs, you can look for a suitable DIY solution yourself. Here are some tips and useful information to help you.
Find out important facts about pigeons before you do your own pigeon deterrent
One of the most common problems facedCity dwellers with balconiesare faced with is the potential for pigeons to rest or breed there. The birds are usually attracted to balconies as they provide excellent overnight and breeding opportunities. A balcony on a low or high floor imitates a rock wall that was the pigeon's original habitat.
However, in the case of a balcony there is far greater roosting and breeding potential than on a narrow ledge on a rock face. It is unusual to find more than one pair on a single balcony and therefore the problem is unlikely to become entrenched. Although pigeons are not particularly territorial, they seem to prefer one balcony per pair. This may be because in most cases apartment blocks have one balcony per unit, resulting in multiple options for the birds looking for a place to breed.
Pigeons like to build nests in flower pots and anything else that is suitable for this purpose. If you have a pre-existing problem with pigeons on your balcony, the best preventive measure is to remove as many items from the balcony as possible. The less furniture or decorations you have on your balcony, the more unprotected a pigeon will feel. Before you start working on keeping pigeons away from your balcony, always carry out a thorough search of all the infrastructure within it to ensure that there are no nests on site.
Possible damage from pigeons on the balcony
Pigeons are extremely resourceful creatures. As a result, they have learned to easily adapt to urban environments with human expansion. The birds usually breed and roost in groups and produce large amounts of feces. Their feces can be very runny and contain high levels of acid. The acidity of their stool can break down stone, concrete, and other materials over time. Therefore, pigeon droppings can damage your car, balcony furniture, windows, walls, railings and sidewalks. Additionally, pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases, creating the need to get rid of them. Here are some simple ways to get rid of birds that are often considered a nuisance from your balcony or patio.
Keep pigeons away and make your own pigeon deterrent
Regardless of whether pigeons have colonized your balcony or terrace, their cooing presence can become really annoying. Although they are harmless to humans, pigeons, as previously mentioned, produce a lot of feces. If you've been unfortunate enough to be chosen as an attractive roosting spot by pigeons and are tired of constantly cleaning your balcony, perhaps it's time to consider robust deterrents to keep them away.
While investing in the best pressure washer will at least help you keep your home clean, learning how to repel pigeons will save you from having to clean up feathers and droppings every day. Here are some tried-and-true methods that professional pest controllers and bird specialists recommend.
Cover the balcony with bird netting as a commercial method
This is the most recommended method for deterring pigeons. It is also the most effective way to get rid of such birds in small areas such as balconies. Nets are both highly effective and unobtrusive. When hung from the roof on the sides of the balcony, bird netting creates a physical barrier that prevents pigeons from entering. It is quite unobtrusive and will not block the view of your balcony while this pigeon deterrent keeps the birds away.
The overall best and most humane method would be to cordon off the balcony area with a bird net. The net is laid from the top edge of the balcony downwards. This prevents the pigeons from resting or perching on the railing, lighting or other objects on the balcony. The net is virtually invisible from the ground and becomes unnoticeable up close. If you are using nylon bird nets, it would be advisable to read the product review before even considering this option.
Use physical deterrents such as spikes against pigeons on the balcony
This may not be the prettiest solution, but if pigeons nest on your roof or fence, spikes can be a great pigeon deterrent. These are made of either steel or plastic and do not harm the pigeons. They just prevent them from ever landing where the spikes are installed. If you have the opportunity to install them, go straight to the bird tips. They rarely sit right next to people, so if they can't sit up top and you regularly spend time next to them, your pigeon problem is gone. There are also bird runs, slides, and other physical deterrents you can try that are a little more visually appealing.
Use insulating wire and make your own pigeon repellent
Since the pigeon usually feels the need to access a base before entering the balcony itself, the first thing you need to do is protect all potential landing points. These are either balcony railings or the floor of the balcony under the safety plate. You can therefore easily protect railings by installing a wire that sits a few centimeters above them. The rope or insulating wire is attached to the wall at both ends of the balcony recess and runs from one side of the balcony to the other just above the handrail. As soon as the pigeon's feet touch the wire that moves up and down, they feel unsteady and abort the landing. The space under the security wall can easily be blocked with wire mesh or a solid material such as plywood.
Materials and tools required:
- drill
- Two dowels and 2 screw hooks
- A piece of fishing line or stainless steel wire
- Two small feathers
- A piece of plywood or something similar
Instructions
- In order to be able to make and install this option as a pigeon deterrent yourself, first drill two holes in the side wall of the balcony recess, about 10 cm above the balcony railing.
- Slide a dowel into each hole and then install the two screw hooks.
- Hang a small spring on each screw hook, then tie fishing line or stainless steel wire to the other end of the spring.
- Pull the wire or line as tight as possible without stretching the spring. If the width of the balcony is larger than average, it may be necessary to install a central support in the wire or conduit span.
- When a pigeon tries to land on the rail, its feet touch the wire first, making the bird feel unsteady and abort its landing.
