When you’ve seen a continuing cooing coming from above your ceiling, there’s a superb probability pigeons have taken up residence in your roof. Whereas they could appear innocent at first, these uninvited company can shortly grow to be an issue – damaging roofing supplies, spreading illness by means of their droppings, and inflicting a racket, particularly throughout breeding season.
One common DIY repair making the rounds on-line is utilizing mothballs to cease pigeons in your roof – however does this trick truly work? And extra importantly, is it secure? We spoke to pest management specialists to search out out whether or not mothballs are a wise answer or simply one other city fantasy.
Utilizing mothballs to cease pigeons in your roof – intelligent trick or city fantasy?
“Mothballs are generally presupposed to be a option to hold pigeons off your roof, however they’re neither efficient nor dependable when used for repelling these birds,” says Tony King, founding father of The Pied Piper Pest Management Ltd.
“The naphthalene in mothballs has a really strong-whiff odour that’s positive to trigger some delicate irritation for birds, however pigeons are extremely tailored and have a tendency to get used to it quick,” Tony explains. “As well as, the odor is disagreeable to people, and therefore it’s impractical as a long-term plan for controlling pigeons. At greatest, mothballs could deter pigeons quickly, however they shouldn’t be relied on as a first-line answer.”
Tony King
Tony King, the proprietor and supervisor of The Pied Piper, a number one pest management service with a legacy spanning over 25 years. He leads a extremely expert workforce of pest exterminators proficient in dealing with all the things from rat and mouse elimination to tackling extreme bedbug and cockroach infestations.
Are mothballs harmful?
Mothballs (also referred to as naphthalene balls) are poisonous if ingested and will be particularly harmful to pets and babies. (Picture credit score: Kiran Thakur on Getty Pictures)
“Some mothballs comprise poisonous chemical compounds that may be dangerous to people, pets and the surroundings,” warns John Stewart, technical coaching supervisor at Pelsis Group. “Since deterring pigeons will not be the meant use of this product, it’s not really helpful that mothballs are used on this means.”
Tony King agrees: “Mothballs are toxic – notably to pets and younger kids. The chemical compounds they comprise, reminiscent of naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, will be dangerous if ingested or inhaled.”
There are additionally broader environmental considerations. When used open air, mothballs can leach into the soil or enter water sources. In lots of areas, utilizing them on this means could breach hazardous supplies rules.
In brief, whereas the odor of mothballs could deter pigeons quickly, the dangers far outweigh the advantages. It’s not a pest management shortcut price taking.
John Stewart
John is a pest management skilled, trade and graduate biologist. He specialises within the auditing of meals manufacturing websites and troubleshooting pest management points in industrial settings.
Alternative routes to discourage pigeons in your roof
Fortuitously, there are a number of simpler and humane methods to forestall pigeons from nesting in your roof. This is what the specialists suggest:
Chicken netting / mesh
“One of the common methods to discourage pigeons is chook netting, which will be put in to bodily forestall pigeons from getting onto rooftops,” explains Tony King.
Chicken netting prevents pigeons from touchdown and roosting on roof areas, balconies, and beneath photo voltaic panels. It’s an particularly helpful answer for hard-to-access or awkwardly formed areas, reminiscent of chimney stacks, pitched roofs, gable ends, or architectural options that provide sheltered spots for nesting.
Chicken netting has an a variety of benefits:
Discreet look: As soon as in place, chook netting is barely noticeable from the bottom. It additionally permits pure mild to move by means of, so it received’t darken balconies or courtyards.
Fast influence: As quickly because it’s put in, pigeons are unable to land or roost in these areas.
Extremely adaptable: This deterrent will be tailor-made to swimsuit a spread of property varieties and layouts – from uncommon rooflines to ornamental options like canopies and cornices.
Black Photo voltaic Proofing Chicken Mesh
This photo voltaic panel PVC coated mesh is designed to sort out the problem of pigeons and different birds nesting and roosting beneath photo voltaic panels.
Chicken spikes
“One other humane technique is utilizing chook spikes that are fastened alongside ledges or different areas the place pigeons are likely to roost,” says Tony King. “Although these could sound a bit of excessive, these spikes are literally innocent.”
By creating an uneven touchdown space, chook spikes make it uncomfortable for pigeons to roost – encouraging them to maneuver on with out inflicting them hurt within the course of.
As soon as put in, it’s barely noticeable from floor degree and received’t block out pure mild – excellent for preserving the appear and feel of balconies, courtyards or roof terraces. Higher nonetheless, it really works immediately by stopping pigeons from touchdown or nesting, and will be tailor-made to swimsuit every kind of properties, together with these with ornamental options like canopies or ornate cornices.
Stainless Metal Chicken Spikes (Covers 3m)
The pack of chook spikes consists of 12 separate 25cm spike sections, making setup a breeze. In simply 2-3 minutes, you’ll be able to simply set up, alter the size, and even divide them into smaller segments for tight areas.
Ultrasonic chook repellents
Ultrasonic chook deterrents work by emitting high-frequency sound waves that birds discover disagreeable, but are utterly inaudible to the human ear. These discreet gadgets supply a low-maintenance option to hold pigeons at bay, working across the clock to create a persistently unwelcoming surroundings.
Compact and light-weight, they’re simple to put in and will be repositioned if wanted to focus on totally different areas. Most fashions are solar-powered or use little or no electrical energy, making them an energy-efficient choice, too.
Decoy birds
Decoy predators, reminiscent of mannequin owls or hawks, can be utilized to trick pigeons into considering a menace is close by. These visible deterrents work greatest when moved recurrently to keep up the phantasm of hazard, as pigeons are surprisingly clever and can ultimately recognise a static decoy.
Backyard Falcon Chicken Deterrent Pest Management
This life like falcon decoy is appropriate for all 12 months spherical use and is right for deterring different birds.
FAQs
Is it unlawful to take away pigeons out of your roof?
Whereas it isn’t unlawful to discourage pigeons out of your roof, you need to not hurt them or intervene with energetic nests. All wild birds within the UK, together with pigeons, are protected beneath the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This implies it’s unlawful to deliberately injure, kill, or disturb nesting birds with out an acceptable licence.
Why do pigeons hold coming again to my roof?
“To forestall pigeon populations utilizing a roof to roost or nest, the very first thing to do is to cease feeding them and advise neighbours to do the identical, as it will encourage pest birds,” advises John Stewart from Pelsis Group.
Pigeons are extremely routine creatures – as soon as they discover a secure, sheltered place to roost or nest, they’re more likely to return repeatedly except actively deterred. Your roof could supply heat, safety from predators, or easy accessibility to meals, notably if close by properties are feeding birds or leaving scraps outdoors.
When must you name a pest management skilled?
“It is best to contact knowledgeable to pigeon-proof round photo voltaic panels and stop them nesting,” says John Stewart. “They’ll have the talents and experience, entry to tools, and proper insurance coverage to have the ability to achieve this.”
DIY strategies can generally fall quick, particularly in hard-to-reach areas or when tackling established infestations. However knowledgeable pest management supplier can assess your property, suggest essentially the most appropriate deterrents, and perform the set up safely and humanely. They will additionally make sure you keep on the best facet of UK wildlife legal guidelines.
How a lot does it price to pigeon-proof a roof?
Costs can differ relying on the dimensions of your roof, the kind of deterrent you select, and whether or not specialist entry tools is required – however you don’t essentially need to lay our a fortune to pigeon-proof your property.
As a basic rule, commonplace deterrents like chook spikes or netting are likely to price between £150 and £500. Extra advanced jobs – reminiscent of proofing round photo voltaic panels or masking hard-to-reach roof areas – could price a bit of extra.