Is there a safe and inexpensive way to get rid of pigeons?

Question

My roof hangs over the house about 3 feet and there is a wire that runs underneath the roof. The wire is connected directly from the electric meter, which is located inside our house, to the utility pole that right next to my home. Everyday, several pigeons would hang around on the wire and make a huge and digusting mess right at my door steps. We had tried spraying water, throwing pebbles, and even shooting plastic BB pellets, but non of them worked. They would taunt us by coming back in few hours. The war games with the pigeons have been going on for more than a year. We checked the whole house and there are no nesting. Does anyone know of a safe and inexpensive solution to this problem?

Answer 1

Many exterminators also will go after birds as well as insects. Check the phone book. Failing that, I'd say upgrade to a shotgun.

Answer 2

There's a great little product called "hot foot" that is basically a pellet that looks like a gel but it makes the pigeons mad by getting on their feet and heating them up. They get aggravated for a day or two, then move on. They may be dumb, but they know how to survive.

The City of Chicago has been using it for years to control pigeons and hawks in the Loop. It's EXTREMELY effective. It might cost $100 for a 4 pack, but consider that the first dose will chase them away and the others are just refresher courses for the next year and you'll realize it's a lot cheaper than the alternatives. They also sell excellent disinfectants to clean up the guano mess left behind by the birds.

Answer 3

The Owl is a great suggestion you could also go with a fake snake. Both will run off the birds. New York city introduced Paragon Falcons they did a great job. I doubt though that would work for you.

Answer 4

I have heard the owl rumor before and I thought it would work until I went downtown and saw the owl statue on the county treasurers building with pigeons all around it. haha
I wonder if you can rig a motion sensor to activate something that would shoe them away?

Answer 5

Go buy a fake owl at wal-marts for $20, put it on the roof. This owl isn't a concrete statue it looks real and for $10 more you can get the one with the move able head. ha ha

Answer 6

Fake Owl works great

Answer 7

Perhaps you could wrap the wire in thorns, or something similar to prevent them from landing. I know from experience that even if you shoot them, more will come. They are evil, cooing, roost rats.

Answer 8

I was going to suggest the owl too. I had heard about it. If it really doesn't work, my garden is really in for big time problems.

Answer 9

Do not ask me how to get it but spray cat urine.

Answer 10

walmart bebe gun 20$