The breeding capacity of pigeons can make them a real problem in residential, commercial and industrial settings. A mating pair can have more than two broods every year, each with one or two eggs, so it doesn’t take long for a pigeon population to get out of control. Pigeons do not migrate, so they also stay in the same location year after year. 

You need to find a way to deal with a pigeon population in the most humane and effective way possible. Trapping, shooting and poisoning them are inhumane methods that can have unexpected consequences. The methods you select will be different depending on the location of the pigeons. Some methods can work well in a residential setting but are not appropriate in commercial or industrial settings. 

Why is a pigeon control program necessary?

Pigeons can carry diseases and cause significant damage to your home or business premises. Large numbers will roost on rooftops and other locations from where they defecate. Their droppings are slippery, which can make them dangerous for foot traffic. They are also corrosive, so they can cause damage to structures, vegetation etc. When pigeons nest in gutters or downpipes, they block them and can cause water to collect in them and cause flooding. If they build nests in chimneys or flues, it increases the risks of fires. It is essential to start a pigeon control program before pigeons can cause costly repairs or irreversible damage. 

The problem with many deterrent and exclusion pigeon control methods is that they aren’t an effective option in larger locations such as college campuses, hotels, manufacturing plants, rail yards or hospitals and healthcare facilities. For example, it is impossible to use spikes on every single perching area and expensive to use bird netting in large areas. OvoControl’s pigeon control methods offer a humane and effective way to reduce a pigeon population over time in larger settings. 

Population control with pigeon ‘birth control’

Using OvoControl’s “birth-control” method will reduce your pigeon population by 50% on an annual basis. This interrupts the constant breeding and repopulation of the pigeon flock. You begin by installing an automatic feeder loaded with cracked corn. You trigger the feeder once a day and condition the birds to eat the corn. The birds will eventually arrive in the morning before the feeder even triggers. 

You can gradually transition the pigeons from the pre-bait by mixing in some OvoControl pellets with the active ingredient. The active ingredient is contained within the pellets. It prevents the eggs laid by treated females from being fertilized, so they won’t hatch. This method works gradually over time, but it’s a predictable way to increase a pigeon population by 50% a year. 

Repellant, deterrent and exclusion pigeon control methods

Spikes provide an affordable way to deal with pigeons that are causing a problem on the roof of a residential home. They don’t harm the pigeons but simply deter them. You can install them on all perching areas where they could land. They are easy to install, non-lethal, and low-profile. This method will deter pigeons from perching on your roof, but it won’t keep them away from your property altogether. 

Nylon bird netting can be an effective way to keep pigeons out of places attractive to them for nesting. Hung vertically along the sides of a building, it can prevent them from perching on a building’s surface and seal off access to a balcony. 

Products like sticky gels can stop pigeons from perching, but they quickly become ineffective when coated with debris and dust, so constant re-application is necessary. 

Other small birds can get stuck in the gel and die as they can’t manage to get free.

Effigies of predators can scare off pigeons, but they soon get used to them and learn to ignore them. More modern ones that can move their heads are effective for longer. 

Visual repellents such as reflective discs or reflective tape reflect moving light into the eyes of pigeons. This is a deterrent that prevents them from perching. Ultrasonic noises can also cause pigeons to move away from the sounds. 

When using repellant, deterrent and exclusion methods, it helps to use one or more methods together as none of them are 100% effective. Pigeons that manage to evade one layer may be driven away by another. Eventually, they are likely to move away to another area than constantly endure assaults on their senses. 

Conclusion

An effective pigeon control program starts with knowing which methods are best in different situations. In a residential home, spikes may be a good deterrent on a roof. In a home with a balcony, bird netting can deter pigeons from perching. Predator effigies, reflective discs, gels and other repellants work to some extent, but the results are usually temporary. The most efficient way to control a pigeon population is to use a pigeon birth control method.