Pigeon Removal
Pigeons are everywhere in Colorado, especially urban environments like Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver. Dealing with nuisance and pest birds like pigeons and mud swallows presents unique challenges. While most pest animals in Colorado can be trapped and relocated, that is just not possible with pigeons and swallows. But birds can be just as much of a nuisance as skunks or raccoons.
Pigeon Problems
These birds can quickly start causing problems when they start roosting on your property. For pigeons, problems include:
- Dropping – a single pigeon can produce up to a pound of feces in a single week. And the accumulated droppings can become a breeding ground for harmful fungus or bacteria. We clean up and sanitize all bird feces and restore the area impacted.
- Diseases – pigeons can carry several diseases including salmonella, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis.
- Other Pests – many pigeons are infected with fleas or mites that can spread to humans and pets living nearby.
- Noise – a group of roosting pigeons can make quite a bit of noise, especially early in the morning when you’re trying to sleep.
- Mud swallows share many of the above problems, but they also damage property when they build their mud nests under eaves, decks, and beams.
Removing Pigeons and Swallows
Because trapping and relocating is not an option when dealing with pigeons and mud swallows, the best option is to take away the birds’ roosting location. This process is referred to as exclusion or sometimes pigeon proofing – and involves making typical roosting locations uninhabitable for pigeons and mud swallows.
With pigeons, this means any flat services on your structure – including gutters, peaks, and beams. Mud swallows can be more difficult because they will build their nests under overhangs and other vertical services. The most common way to exclude these birds in Fort Collins is with pigeon spikes. These metal spikes are installed in the bird’s roosting area and prevent them from landing and building nests on your property.
Common home remedies like fake owls, noisemakers, and streamers are rarely effective at controlling pigeon or swallow infestations. They might work temporarily, but the birds will quickly overcome their fear and return to their usual nesting location.
If you are having a problem with one of these specific species of birds, please check these pages:
Professional Pigeon and Swallow Control
There is no magic solution for addressing a problem with pest birds in Fort Collins, but a professional wildlife pest control company can help you deal with unwelcome visitors safely and humanely. At First Choice Wildlife Services, we are highly experienced in removing pigeons and swallows from homes and businesses across the Front Range, including Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, and Denver.
If you are experienced problems with unwanted birds, including pigeons and mud swallows, you can contact us at 970-460-4044 if you need bird removal control services. We service the areas of Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Greeley in the state of Colorado, and we can help you with any problem you have.
How to Keep Pigeons Out Of The Roof?
Pigeons are fascinating creatures and are no doubt helpful to the environment. They are colorful, make exciting noises, and can follow maps (through some complicated geo-magnetic locations). However, the only problem is that they are just everywhere.
It can be a big issue if Pigeon movements are not restricted in your properties or gardens. They prefer to roost on the roof, gutters, wires, fences, and other high-altitude areas. Also, their droppings and presence can carry many smaller parasites that are unhealthy to humans.
Various research found the droppings of pigeons to be of high corrosive components to metals.
You can keep Pigeons out of your roof or other property by using;
- Deterrents
Wire coils, steel wires, and spikes are some common deterrents people use to discourage Pigeons from roosting on their roof. These additions are humane, low profile and are an easy DIY installation option.
- Install scary camouflages
There are lots of large-sized scary animals that are sold in pet shops. Installing some of their common predators in an area where they roost can effectively discourage them from visiting such areas. The only downside to this option is that the Pigeon will sooner catch up with this “distraction” and get used to it.
- Install sloped sheeting
Installing a sloping piece of sheet metal or other similar physical discomforts on flat ledges will discourage them from settling there. However, this tactic may not be a total solution to the pigeons perching on your roof.
- Natural repellents
In their choicest areas, almost all wildlife are repulsed by certain smells, odors, or substances. There are many homemade remedies or repellents that you can easily whip up to scare these animals away. Top the spices that irritate Pigeons the most include;
- Chili powder,
- Cayenne Pepper,
- Black pepper,
- Cinnamon
We purposely precluded any poisonous or destructive substance in these lists as we understand their impact on the ecosystem. Also, various States have varying laws regarding how pests and other wildlife should be treated (often frowning at destructive means).
- Set traps
Traps are universal and a common remedy to solving Pest and bird issues. However, some traps can be harmful to pigeons and even Pets. When using traps, the purpose should be only to capture them and resettle them in other regions.
When you release a pigeon, be sure to remove them smartly, as Homing Pigeons will always find a way back if released within a certain ranger.
- Netting
Installing nets around areas where they frequent can be very frustrating for Pigeons. For example, it is good to use Nets around your plants, fruits, vegetables, and other areas. It is easier to protect your roof and gutters from the menace Pigeons cause.
- Using Bird Spikes
This method is a complicated but effective method of redirecting the areas where Pigeon roosts in your home. Spikes prevent pigeons from congregating on the roof or other parts of the house because of the discomfort they cause to the birds.
However, Spikes should be installed by professionals as they can get tricky and even dangerous to the person. Our services also include scouting for the best location on your roof to install these spikes.
- Make the roof un-liveable for them.
Pigeons find your roof comfortable if they can get all the nutrients they require. If your roof holds water or any form of pigeon feed, you should work on clearing the roof. If your roof is also under an overreaching branch, it may be time to cut it off.
You should check for leaks, faucets, pools, buckets, gutters, and anything that collects water.
How to Get Pigeons Out of a Wall
The constant scratching and wing flapping from inside the walls is one of the ways to tell that you have a winged animal living inside the walls. It could be bats, but then it could also be pigeons.
And before you start any type of war against pigeons, you need first confirm that they are actually what you have inside your walls. The easiest way to verify anything is actually to see the birds yourself, but other indications include loud chirping or squawking noises that begin about daybreak and last all day.
While rats, squirrels, and mice will awaken at dusk and wander inside your walls all night, birds fly out to find food in the morning and travel back and forth all day.
If you do have a bird problem and think that they have gotten inside your walls, you can definitely get rid of them, though it will take some time. Getting rid of birds in the walls is not just a fight to get them out permanently, but also a fight to prevent dead birds from being stuck inside your walls. Removing animals from inside walls can be a challenge, and contacting a qualified wildlife control specialist is the easiest and safest way to handle a trapped bird.
Determine their exact location
You can do this just by listening very carefully. When pigeons are stuck inside walls, they tend to make a lot of noise, and you should be able to tell exactly where they are with your ears. You may also be able to feel some vibrations on the walls when the birds flap their wings and move around in a certain way, this will give you a very good idea of the location of the pigeons.
Get the birds out
Once you have a good idea of where the pigeons are, get yourself a box or cage in which to trap them. Then, put on gloves and clothing to protect yourself from being bitten by the pigeon, being scratched by their claws or from pecking wounds.
Next, cut a hole in the drywall to let the pigeon out. You may need someone to help with positioning the box or cage for the birds to fly in. Your partner should be nearby to catch the pigeon(s) if it tries to fly out when the drywall is removed.
If you want a simpler way to do this is by finding the entry point, installing an exclusion device, and letting the pigeons fly out on their own.
Fix the wall
After you’ve trapped and freed the pigeons, make sure to carefully fix the drywall. The best solution is typically to cut a square to fit the hole in the drywall, followed by furring tape and plaster to conceal the damage. This should be followed by repainting the wall. If there are any gaps in the attic that the pigeons can enter, it is good to look into them and then seal them as well.
Install pigeon deterrents
You will need to make certain modifications to ensure that the pigeons never come back to your walls, attic, and roof. Changes you should consider include installing bird-repelling pigeon pikes, netting, or physical deterrents like imitation owls.
Check your structure for holes and fill them in. Inspect the roof, attic, and chimney, since birds frequently perch on the chimney or roof and can enter through any cracks they discover. Pigeons will enter your building from the upper parts because they fly and live in the sky.
Pigeons can be kept out by properly capping your chimney, which will also stop them from making their nest there. By making these necessary changes, you will eventually discourage pigeons from nesting around your home.
Request Free Quote
