Do cheeky wood pigeons eat young plants from the balcony tubs? Or do the cooing pests like to stay on your terrace? Then you can drive away the pigeons with these gentle measures and non-toxic home remedies.
In a nutshell
- Injuring or killing pigeons prohibited
- no anti-pigeon paste, no spikes or live devices
- very effective: movable dummies of birds of prey and owls
- Remove pigeon nests and replace eggs with plastic ones
- don't leave anything potentially edible lying around in the open
Do not hurt or kill
Some readers may ask themselves why only gentle measures and home remedies for driving away pigeons that do not hurt pigeons are listed here. Quite simply: Pigeons are also protected by the Animal Welfare Act and may therefore neither be injured nor killed. The intentional injuring and killing of vertebrates is strictly prohibited and violations can result in heavy fines. Hence you should of means like
- electricity
- vinegar
- adhesive creams
- anti-pigeon paste
- spikes
etc. refrain. Caution is also required when using bird nets and tension wires. These should be so tight that the birds cannot get caught in them.
In the interests of animal welfare, you should definitely refrain from using spikes and similar “aids”.
Successfully drive away pigeons
Fortunately, however, there are a few other promising methods of repelling pigeons. In order for this to succeed, however, you should have understood some of the basics of pigeon biology. This includes, for example, that birds are true creatures of habit. Once they feel comfortable, they are difficult to scare away again. Therefore, it is usually not enough to use just one measure:
- resort to different methods
- constantly startle and disturb
- for example repeated flushing with a water spray gun
- loose dogs and cats
Notice: You should only avoid loud music and other sources of noise, for the sake of the neighbors and other wild animals.
Eliminate food and water sources
Pigeons are real food opportunists and eat almost everything that comes in front of their beak. They are almost exclusively vegetarians, even when they are rearing their young. However, they have no objection to human food in the form of breadcrumbs and the like, juicy young plants in containers (and on the bed) or chicken feed. Therefore, the birds can be attracted to food sources lying around openly, for example on the balcony or terrace. This also includes planted tubs and beds! Therefore you should
- do not leave anything potentially edible lying around in the open
- Sweep up crumbs and the like immediately
- Cover planted tubs and beds (e.g. with a bird protection net)
- Never feed pigeons
- Limit bird feeding to winter
You should also either remove water sources - such as a table fountain, a water feature or a bird bath - or make them inaccessible to the large birds. Basically, pigeons stay where they can easily get enough food and have access to water.
Kohlrabi
noteice cream: By the way, pigeons especially like the leaves and seedlings of young cabbage plants, such as kohlrabi. They like to be eaten and should therefore be protected.
Set up dummy birds of prey
Pigeons are the preferred prey of large birds of prey, and ravens and crows occasionally hunt them. Therefore, a plastic or metal bird of prey dummy can drive away pigeons, but only under the following conditions:
- Moving the dummy at different intervals (in time)
- Dummy itself is movable (e.g. wind chime)
- as lifelike as possible
Various studies and also our own experience have shown that plastic dummies are "seen through" by the pigeons after a while and no longer frighten them. Pigeons are not stupid and quickly notice when the supposed bird of prey is not moving. Then it is classified as harmless. Therefore, moving wind chimes in the form of flying owls or hawks are preferable to a standing mock raven.
Tip: Hang the flying dummy birds of prey in a prominent position and in an elevated position and ensure that they move continuously.
Place dog and cat hair
In contrast to many other birds, pigeons have a well-developed sense of smell. After all, the animals owe their phenomenal sense of direction to their excellent nose. This is why pigeons are very easy to scare away with smells, for example by distributing combed dog and cat hair on the balcony or in the vegetable patch. On the other hand, you should avoid using butyric acid or similar agents, as this smell will drive you away and you won't be able to get rid of it that quickly.
make landing difficult
Pigeons like to be comfortable, which is why it is easy to scare them away by making it difficult to land. For example, you can cover popular seats (without spikes!) with smooth, slightly slanted metal surfaces. These so-called "pigeon slides" ensure that the animals cannot find a footing when they land, slide and have to fly away again. Observe closely where the birds like to land and perch. Such pigeon slides can often be installed there. Galvanized sheet steel is a very good material as it is largely protected against the effects of the weather.
Eliminate nesting opportunities
In addition to landing sites, you should also eliminate nesting sites, for example by covering and closing them. Pigeons are rock/cave nesters by nature, so they will seek sheltered niches. You can also find them on buildings or balconies.
Remove pigeon nests
As soon as the pigeons start building their nest, you should always remove the nest or the nesting materials. However, if the pigeon's nest is already finished and there are eggs in it, it is best to proceed as follows:
- eggs, d. H. shine through with a flashlight
- Replace light-colored eggs that have only been incubated for a few days with plastic eggs
- Don't just take them out, otherwise pigeons will keep laying new eggs
- leave dark, longer incubated eggs in the nest
- Remove nest immediately after young have fledged
wood pigeon in the nest
Notice: You should then close the nesting site in such a way that it is not possible to build a new nest. Nests should definitely be removed, as pigeons use them again and again.
Install pigeon net
Attaching a so-called pigeon net is one of the simple but effective measures to drive away pigeons. With one of these, you can protect your balcony from cooing uninvited visitors. However, make sure that the mesh is made of highly visible (i.e. dark or colored) material and is tightly woven. Pigeons often get caught in wide-meshed nets and could injure themselves or perish in agony. Instead of a net, a grid (e.g. wire mesh) can also be attached.
Tinker dove fright
Do you have old CDs or aluminum foil at home? From this, a simple but effective home remedy for deterring pigeons can be made:
- fasten several CDs in a row on a belt
- Hang the CD chain so that it can move freely, e.g. B. in a tree or on the balcony
- Cut aluminum foil into wide strips
- Glue aluminum strips to long ribbons
- fasten them on the balcony, terrace or in the garden
- Aluminum strips should flap in the wind
Pigeon scare from CDs in the vegetable patch
Glittering, moving things like these tend to frighten pigeons, so they avoid places with them.
set up wind turbines
Also effective, but usually nicer to look at, are colorful pinwheels that turn in the wind and can be bought in many colors, shapes and sizes. They can either be stuck directly into the planter or bed by their wooden stick or hung up on a device provided for this purpose at a higher point, for example on a tree. To drive away pigeons, you should place as many of these pinwheels or wind chimes as possible.
frequently asked Questions
What types of pigeons are there in Germany?The well-known city pigeons are often descended from escaped carrier pigeons, which is why they are feral pets. There are also various wild pigeons such as the common wood pigeon. This largest native pigeon species is easily recognized by its grey-blue plumage and white neck patch. The collared pigeon, on the other hand, is a little smaller, lighter in color and has a black neckline. In addition, a distinction is made between the stock pigeon, which is very similar to the classic blue street pigeon, and the small turtle dove.
When do pigeons breed?Pigeons breed several times a year, wood pigeons about two to three times between April and October. Depending on the weather, however, the breeding season can also start much earlier or extend well into winter. Nests are found on trees and buildings, with the two eggs usually being incubated for about 16 days. The youngsters leave the nest after 22 days, but continue to be fed by their parents.
What natural enemies do pigeons have?Large birds of prey such as goshawks, common buzzards, kestrel and peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks capture adult pigeons in flight. Cats, rats and martens, on the other hand, are more likely to capture eggs and young birds.