Pigeon Exclusion - Get Pigeons Out of Building

01.29.2004 - I was called out to this apartment building because it had a problem with pigeons roosting in the attics. Many of the apartment units had these large square openings in the stairwells. The openings led right into the roof and attics of the apartments. Pigeons eventually found these openings, and they provided access to a perfectly safe habitat - the attics. Many pairs of pigeons had established nests in the attic space. This caused a number of problems. First of all, the tenants of the apartments had to deal with a lot of noise coming from up above - this noise included the flapping and walking around of adult pigeons, and also the cries of the hatchlings at all hours. The second big problem is that pigeons make a lot of mess. They filled the attic with nesting material and feathers and dander, and most of all, pigeon waste, in the form of urine and feces. So the attics were filled with pigeon nests and poop. This created an odor problem in some of the apartments, and even worse, a potential health risk. Pigeon droppings can grow mold, which people can breathe in and become infected by. This is unacceptable for a residential building.

I was called in to perform a pigeon exclusion. I analyzed the problem. The pigeons were nesting, and the adults entered and exited the large square holes several times a day to go forage for food and water. I installed special pigeon exclusion devices on the holes, by covering them with steel mesh and installing a net tube that allowed the pigeons inside to get out, but not fly back in. This tactic eliminated the adult pigeons from the attics. I then entered the attic spaces and removed the nests and young pigeons by hand. This took care of the bird problem. I was quite pleased with one of my first pigeon exclusion projects.

Alas, the cheap-ass apartments didn't want to pay to have the attics cleaned, thereby exposing tenants to potential health risks, especially over time. In addition, they still haven't paid me, and it's been several months. I don't like it when customers don't pay me. Perhaps I should start to ask for some money up-front. Still, it was good to get some experience on a pigeon exclusion project here in Orlando.

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Pigeons may seem harmless, but they are never welcomed guests in our houses or offices. As much as we can ignore them while passing the streets, constant noise and unsightly droppings covering our roof and windowsills cannot be overlooked. A pigeon infestation can cause some serious damage to your property and its surroundings. Moreover, these birds can be carriers of many diseases and parasites, which puts you and your closest ones at risk. In this article, we are discussing the best ways of dealing with pigeons and getting them out of your building.

What attracts pigeons to your home?
Like most pests, pigeons are looking for safe areas to nest and roost, and places with a stable food source. Pigeons typically live in flocks, which means that when they find the right spot, several nests appear there very quickly. Luckily, these birds don't have many natural predators which means their nests are usually not hidden and easy to locate. Pigeons are not very fussy when it comes to food and can literally feed on anything they find – from exposed junk and garbage to vegetable gardens and seeds from bird feeders.

Ways of getting pigeons out of buildings
If the pigeons found their way inside of your house or office, it is most likely they got there through the roof and started nesting in your attic. Pigeons are capable of squeezing into small gaps and holes, so your first step should be carefully inspecting attic and roof areas. Identifying entry points is crucial in the exclusion of pests.

The best way of dealing with a pigeon infestation is by installing a one-way door. If you found multiple entry points, we recommend closing all of them except one that will be used to get rid of the pigeons. Next, you should install a one-way door excluder which allow birds to leave the room but not come back. As pigeons exit the building through the installation, an automatic, spring-loaded closing door drops behind them on its way out and places the bird outside of the building. This is considered the most effective method in getting rid of pigeons. However, you need to remember to carefully inspect the attic for nests and eggs and remove them manually. You should also consider capping chimneys and surround nesting areas with mesh netting.

Another way of getting rid of pigeons is by installing spikes on the spots where they like to nest and roost. Making those areas unappealing should help with the exclusion of the pests. You can also try tying a string across pigeon roosting areas, which will make landing uncomfortable. A different method of making the building unappealing to pigeons is converting all the flat surfaces to uneven spaces by installing sloping covers. Without flat spaces like window sills or ledges, pigeons won't be able to build nests. You should always remember to remove any possible food and water sources so that the birds don't have a reason to come back near your house.