Pigeons - Help!!

Aishah · Jul 30th, 2007, 17:55

Can anyone tell me how to keep pigeons from making a nest on top of my outside split system air conditioning machine? I am constantly shooing them off, sweeping up the twigs, demolishing what they are doing and have been doing this for the last 4 days. I am now starting to tear my hair out!! They never stop - you would think they would get the message - there are 3 of them, one male 2 females? 2 males, 1 female?? Who knows what pigeons get up to?? Suggestions much appreciated, thank you.

brownboy66 · Jul 30th, 2007, 18:32

I guess using a gun is out of the question?? You might try this - most birds a fiercely territorial. If you have a small mirror - place is on top of the aircon box so that they can see themselves when they land. They'll think its another pigeon - with one of two results a) they'll fly off, or b) will stay and fight. Be warned - if its option 2 it could go on for weeks (I'm speaking from experience here). The gun takes less time....

Brigit · Jul 30th, 2007, 18:36

Try putting something spikey on top of the box, like barbed wire, or broken glass, that way they can't land

gautam · Jul 30th, 2007, 19:07

Think positive folks. Those birds have nowhere to go.

Check this link for helpline. Its a blog where others have also posted their comments.

edwardseco · Jul 30th, 2007, 19:58

The traditional tool is fake owl but many will pick up on that it isn't moving. A friend was induced to bring a falcon in to make a hunt. Spectacular, all disappeared for a week. I sympathize strongly..

Noodle · Jul 30th, 2007, 20:33

The best advice is I think to put something on top that hinders them to land there.

But I'm surprised that they even try to build a nest on top of the box. Doesn't seem like a particularly safe place to put your eggs and raise your young (smooth surface, for example, slippery etc ...). Here they build nests under my AC box, which is fine with me. I like their sounds, I find them soothing ... And my cat is forever sitting behind the curtain pretending to be on a hunt

brownboy66 · Jul 31st, 2007, 01:59

so - the suggestions so far include a mirror, a fake owl, a real falcon, broken glass, barb wire, and positive thought (i.e - leave the poor things alone, and just grin and bear it). I'll be interested to see what you choose and what the result is!

Aishah · Jul 31st, 2007, 18:47

Noodle - the whole thing is very pointless for them and you would think now after 14 days of my sweeping the twigs away that they would get the message. There are plenty of other places where they could go! As for the solutions brownboy I am starting with the mirror on the top - put there 30 mins. ago. i suspect it will at some stage fall down and break, then I will put broken glass up!!
The gun may be a last resort - but we don't have one although Mr K has gone through a huge baksheesh, giving dinner parties to the right people etc. in order to get a bandook licence. Why he wants this i have no idea - for protection he says. I have told him we don't need one... well, this is getting off topic so will leave it there, but do i shoot into the air to frighten them and does that work????? The thought of shooting birds is too gruesome for words for me. I am an animal lover...
It's not the soft cooing noises Noodle, it's the rear end action plus the mess of twigs, the possibility of my a/c catching fire etc. that worries me.

Noodle · Jul 31st, 2007, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

It's not the soft cooing noises Noodle, it's the rear end action plus the mess of twigs, the possibility of my a/c catching fire etc. that worries me.

I know. I didn't mean to say you should enjoy their presence. On top of my AC unit - I wouldn't like that either!

Noodle · Jul 31st, 2007, 19:58

Aishah, I just asked a friend. She said the fake owl or crow worked well in her case. She also suggested to take some chicken wire and fix it on top of the AC unit diagonally so they can't land there.

Noodle · Jul 31st, 2007, 20:19

Here's another reason why to get rid of pigeons on your AC unit: pigeon faeces contain numerous bacteria, viruses and funghi. Once the faeces have dried the dust could be sucked in by the AC, resulting in you inhaling the stuff. Pigeon faeces can transmit some very dangerous diseases.

Now, I might want to get rid of the pigeons under my AC as well?

Hell I can't even reach there!

evilnyberg · Jul 31st, 2007, 20:20

wow, and here i was thinking it was only me!

a couple of months ago, pigeons nested on our balcony and we thought, sod it, what the heck, checked out the hatching time for pigeons on line (not long) and let them get on with it. live and let live, right?

we have two balconies, so loosing one for a few weeks wasn't that bad of a loss... we tought. until of course came the smell - uhuh, a few weeks of built up pigeon poo reeks - and, at the end of it, the stomach-turning clean-up job.

either way, it was all over... we thought. about a week ago they came back and built a new nest before we had time to react, so here we go again.

let me know what works for you aishah? (though i'm not sure broken glass will be a good solution for my balcony floor!)

photographic proof attached also shows - the little critters ain't pretty.

a

Aishah · Aug 1st, 2007, 10:02

The bacteria thing is scary, Noodle. Well, the mirror is not working they just sit on top of it - I am now going to try the broken glass or find some wire - I like to be able to flick the jhadu (broom) over the top because we are terribly dusty here so maybe the wire better which I could lift off? I thought they might dislodge the mirror but it hasn't moved! Will keep you posted, thanks for hints so far. The mock owl is the best I think but not sure where to get one.. off to market this morning so will look around. Maybe I make one? Any ideas how??

Evilnyberg - good luck, you have one bonus in that the nest is in an easily accessible place - my unit is just out of reach for placing or doing stuff on top of it. I can just manage to flick the broom over it by standing tiptoe but anything else, it's out with the plastic chair and climbing on top!!

vpsingh · Aug 1st, 2007, 10:21

I have been facing this problem for past few years. It is pgieons one year, sparrows another and some other bird some other year. I am tired of using broom to clean the twigs and other trash from top of my desert cooler. Unfortunately these birds are stupid and do not take the hint so I have to go on.
My advise -
1) Let them make nest and lay egg. Then throw everything away including the eggs and they will not pester you that year again. (Sounds very cruel but I have seen many in my locality doing this and succeeding)
2) Keep brooming and cursing them (which is what you are doing right now)
3)Buy a gun (thanks brownboy for the most practical suggestion)
4) Spread some really nasty spices (dried chilly flakes, grounded black pepper etc) and they will not dare. (It worked for me).

edwardseco · Aug 1st, 2007, 10:43

Just in case anyone is serious about a gun please consider a pellet gun instead. Don't want it to be like LA on New Years..

Jul 30th, 2007, 17:55	#1
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,010	Pigeons - Help!! Can anyone tell me how to keep pigeons from making a nest on top of my outside split system air conditioning machine? I am constantly shooing them off, sweeping up the twigs, demolishing what they are doing and have been doing this for the last 4 days. I am now starting to tear my hair out!! They never stop - you would think they would get the message - there are 3 of them, one male 2 females? 2 males, 1 female?? Who knows what pigeons get up to?? Suggestions much appreciated, thank you. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Jul 30th, 2007, 19:07	#4
gautam Super Mode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chandigarh - Blore NON-STOP Posts: 708	Think positive folks. Those birds have nowhere to go. Check this link for helpline. Its a blog where others have also posted their comments. __________________ "Your thoughts could be your prison" My pics on flickr Kerela backwaters - by beach

Jul 30th, 2007, 20:33	#6
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	The best advice is I think to put something on top that hinders them to land there. But I'm surprised that they even try to build a nest on top of the box. Doesn't seem like a particularly safe place to put your eggs and raise your young (smooth surface, for example, slippery etc ...). Here they build nests under my AC box, which is fine with me. I like their sounds, I find them soothing ... And my cat is forever sitting behind the curtain pretending to be on a hunt __________________ If in hole stop digging. Indian saying

Jul 31st, 2007, 20:20	#12
evilnyberg Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: london Posts: 101	wow, and here i was thinking it was only me! a couple of months ago, pigeons nested on our balcony and we thought, sod it, what the heck, checked out the hatching time for pigeons on line (not long) and let them get on with it. live and let live, right? we have two balconies, so loosing one for a few weeks wasn't that bad of a loss... we tought. until of course came the smell - uhuh, a few weeks of built up pigeon poo reeks - and, at the end of it, the stomach-turning clean-up job. either way, it was all over... we thought. about a week ago they came back and built a new nest before we had time to react, so here we go again. let me know what works for you aishah? (though i'm not sure broken glass will be a good solution for my balcony floor!) photographic proof attached also shows - the little critters ain't pretty. a Attached Thumbnails Last edited by evilnyberg : Jul 31st, 2007 at 20:21. Reason: months, not weeks... doh!

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Jul 30th, 2007, 18:32	#2
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,262	I guess using a gun is out of the question?? You might try this - most birds a fiercely territorial. If you have a small mirror - place is on top of the aircon box so that they can see themselves when they land. They'll think its another pigeon - with one of two results a) they'll fly off, or b) will stay and fight. Be warned - if its option 2 it could go on for weeks (I'm speaking from experience here). The gun takes less time....

Jul 30th, 2007, 18:36	#3
Brigit Shy Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: India Pushkar Posts: 166	Try putting something spikey on top of the box, like barbed wire, or broken glass, that way they can't land

Jul 30th, 2007, 19:58	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,924	The traditional tool is fake owl but many will pick up on that it isn't moving. A friend was induced to bring a falcon in to make a hunt. Spectacular, all disappeared for a week. I sympathize strongly..

Jul 31st, 2007, 01:59	#7
brownboy66 Chicken 65 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,262	so - the suggestions so far include a mirror, a fake owl, a real falcon, broken glass, barb wire, and positive thought (i.e - leave the poor things alone, and just grin and bear it). I'll be interested to see what you choose and what the result is!

Jul 31st, 2007, 18:47	#8
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,010	Noodle - the whole thing is very pointless for them and you would think now after 14 days of my sweeping the twigs away that they would get the message. There are plenty of other places where they could go! As for the solutions brownboy I am starting with the mirror on the top - put there 30 mins. ago. i suspect it will at some stage fall down and break, then I will put broken glass up!! The gun may be a last resort - but we don't have one although Mr K has gone through a huge baksheesh, giving dinner parties to the right people etc. in order to get a bandook licence. Why he wants this i have no idea - for protection he says. I have told him we don't need one... well, this is getting off topic so will leave it there, but do i shoot into the air to frighten them and does that work????? The thought of shooting birds is too gruesome for words for me. I am an animal lover... It's not the soft cooing noises Noodle, it's the rear end action plus the mess of twigs, the possibility of my a/c catching fire etc. that worries me.

Jul 31st, 2007, 19:58	#10
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Aishah, I just asked a friend. She said the fake owl or crow worked well in her case. She also suggested to take some chicken wire and fix it on top of the AC unit diagonally so they can't land there.

Jul 31st, 2007, 20:19	#11
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Here's another reason why to get rid of pigeons on your AC unit: pigeon faeces contain numerous bacteria, viruses and funghi. Once the faeces have dried the dust could be sucked in by the AC, resulting in you inhaling the stuff. Pigeon faeces can transmit some very dangerous diseases. Now, I might want to get rid of the pigeons under my AC as well? Hell I can't even reach there!

Aug 1st, 2007, 10:02	#13
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,010	The bacteria thing is scary, Noodle. Well, the mirror is not working they just sit on top of it - I am now going to try the broken glass or find some wire - I like to be able to flick the jhadu (broom) over the top because we are terribly dusty here so maybe the wire better which I could lift off? I thought they might dislodge the mirror but it hasn't moved! Will keep you posted, thanks for hints so far. The mock owl is the best I think but not sure where to get one.. off to market this morning so will look around. Maybe I make one? Any ideas how?? Evilnyberg - good luck, you have one bonus in that the nest is in an easily accessible place - my unit is just out of reach for placing or doing stuff on top of it. I can just manage to flick the broom over it by standing tiptoe but anything else, it's out with the plastic chair and climbing on top!!

Aug 1st, 2007, 10:21	#14
vpsingh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 101	I have been facing this problem for past few years. It is pgieons one year, sparrows another and some other bird some other year. I am tired of using broom to clean the twigs and other trash from top of my desert cooler. Unfortunately these birds are stupid and do not take the hint so I have to go on. My advise - 1) Let them make nest and lay egg. Then throw everything away including the eggs and they will not pester you that year again. (Sounds very cruel but I have seen many in my locality doing this and succeeding) 2) Keep brooming and cursing them (which is what you are doing right now) 3)Buy a gun (thanks brownboy for the most practical suggestion) 4) Spread some really nasty spices (dried chilly flakes, grounded black pepper etc) and they will not dare. (It worked for me).

Aug 1st, 2007, 10:43	#15
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,924	Just in case anyone is serious about a gun please consider a pellet gun instead. Don't want it to be like LA on New Years..

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