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Original poster

To hate pigeons with every bone in my body?

157 replies

MargoLivebetter · 25/04/2024 10:29

I live in a flat and we have outdoor space and the pigeons have moved in and I cannot get rid of them. I made a huge mistake in lockdown of letting two pigeons rear a baby pigeon on the deck. I hadn't realised that they'd laid an egg and when I found it, it had hatched and I couldn't bring myself to lob it over the balcony.

Oh what a price I have paid for my kindness / weakness. I now have a colony of the fuckers living on my decking. I am constantly on pigeon patrol collecting up their sad twig nests and endlessly lobbing their bloody eggs over the balcony. I have pigeon shit everywhere and on days I WFH, I listen to their endless mating noises.

I have tried everything (bar shooting them). I have vile sticky stuff all over the edges of things, which is supposed to deter them but doesn't. I had a bird startler noise thing, which they got used to after about 2 days. I have festooned the place in bird scarers and silvery things, all of which they completely ignore.

I am so fed up with them. Does anyone know a way of getting rid of these bastard birds?

OP posts:
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6
RefreshingCandour · 25/04/2024 18:19

DrJoanAllenby · 25/04/2024 18:14

Shared from a friend:

"My husband grew up in New England where they have pigeons. Apparently they also hate them. He was always saying bad things about pigeons until I pointed something out that he never thought of before.

We domesticated pigeons. They are (nearly) all over the world because HUMANS BROUGHT THEM THERE. And, they were more than pets. They carried messages. People raced them. They lived spoiled lives as honored human companions for centuries.

Then we got telephones and we threw them out like trash.

Literally, we threw them away.

Their species had already been fully domesticated and they could not survive in the wild; they lost all their survival instincts during the centuries that they lived caged by people.

That is why they live in cities with people instead of in a forest somewhere. It's OUR fault. And not only did we throw them away, but now humans curse them as "winged rats;" casting them as pests.

But they don't know how to live without us, and their instincts tell them that they should trust us. So, they continue to come up to humans and beg for food, because it's the only survival skill left in their genes.

They love us because they were bred by us to feel that way, and yet we hate them."

I’ve read that before and am on many bird sites where feelings about them are equally polarised. I adore them.

That picture you posted shows they are stunning birds. Imagine if they were rare how in awe we’d be of their colours and their gorgeous chubba.

Killing babies, eggs whatever you choose to call them to assuage your guilt is horrific and murderous. Would you stomp on a robins nest?

Vile.

HayMambo · 25/04/2024 18:19

I can empathise with a pigeon problem! I also have a balcony and my insane downstairs neighbour has about 10 bird feeders which she refuses to take down or move away from the building so I had pigeons shitting all over my balcony too.

I found that this really worked: https://katycraft.com/product/premium-motion-sensor-bird-repeller-scarer/

It's a wee bit pricey but has kept the pigeons away! Good luck!

Premium Motion Sensor Bird Repeller & Scarer – Katy Craft

https://katycraft.com/product/premium-motion-sensor-bird-repeller-scarer

SuzetteDeFarcey · 25/04/2024 18:16

I have tried everything (bar shooting them)

One has answered one’s own question Margo.

DrJoanAllenby · 25/04/2024 18:14

Shared from a friend:

"My husband grew up in New England where they have pigeons. Apparently they also hate them. He was always saying bad things about pigeons until I pointed something out that he never thought of before.

We domesticated pigeons. They are (nearly) all over the world because HUMANS BROUGHT THEM THERE. And, they were more than pets. They carried messages. People raced them. They lived spoiled lives as honored human companions for centuries.

Then we got telephones and we threw them out like trash.

Literally, we threw them away.

Their species had already been fully domesticated and they could not survive in the wild; they lost all their survival instincts during the centuries that they lived caged by people.

That is why they live in cities with people instead of in a forest somewhere. It's OUR fault. And not only did we throw them away, but now humans curse them as "winged rats;" casting them as pests.

But they don't know how to live without us, and their instincts tell them that they should trust us. So, they continue to come up to humans and beg for food, because it's the only survival skill left in their genes.

They love us because they were bred by us to feel that way, and yet we hate them."

To hate pigeons with every bone in my body?
takemeawayagain · 25/04/2024 18:04

Pigeons are stupid and disgusting and I say that as someone who is generally a wildlife lover! We had one that spent 3 whole days trying to build a nest between tree branches that were clearly too wide and so had a huge pile of twigs under it. They shit everywhere and their shit is disgusting. Plus if most of them exist because of people breeding them back in the day we can hardly really call them 'natural wildlife' can we? Either humans are responsible for their existence or they are natural wildlife, you can't have it both ways. Plus does no one eat eggs?

I would definitely contact pest control and see what they can do. You can't relocate pigeons as of course they have amazing homing instincts (the one thing they are good at!) so anyone suggesting that is being ridiculous. Hopefully you can get rid of the disgusting things.

Janicepalace · 25/04/2024 17:58

Precipice · 25/04/2024 10:56

Urban pigeons are the descendants of domestic pigeons abandoned or escaped. Humans used to keep more pigeons as pets, for food, and for carrying messages. Then these birds got abandoned or escaped. Now some people, no longer seeing the use for pigeons as their ancestors did, have a vile attitude towards pigeons. If it's a 'problem', it's one that humans have created.

This!

I wish people could be more compassionate towards animals. Even the term ‘vermin’ gets me. It’s a man made word and not a universal truth to the animals worth.

Everythinggreen · 25/04/2024 17:45

Some humans need dealing with by pest control clearly.

Periperipissoff · 25/04/2024 17:41

Mumaway · 25/04/2024 17:26

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/uncategorised/pigeon-fanciers-lung

Pigeons can actually kill you, and not just by making you go a bit mad with their incessant cooking, shagging and shitting.

Spikes are useful, deterrent floppy bird things can help, net what you can, and consider spending some money on a man from the council....

Show quote history

Not really relevant tho is it given op isn't spending hours a day in an enclosed space with a large number of them.

Bit like saying fire can kill you so never go near a lighter.

Original poster
MargoLivebetter · 25/04/2024 17:35

😵@Mumaway holy moly! When the weather has been dry and the pigeon poo is like cement, I do wear an old covid mask to try and prevent breathing it in when I clean it. (I realise some of the posters will probably be hoping I get Pigeon Fanciers Lung 😂)

OP posts:
Applescruffle · 25/04/2024 17:34

Mumaway · 25/04/2024 17:26

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/uncategorised/pigeon-fanciers-lung

Pigeons can actually kill you, and not just by making you go a bit mad with their incessant cooking, shagging and shitting.

Spikes are useful, deterrent floppy bird things can help, net what you can, and consider spending some money on a man from the council....

Show quote history

I hate their cooking.
They are particularly bad at lasagne.

AngryLikeHades · 25/04/2024 17:28

I can honestly say I don't blame you, OP.

Mumaway · 25/04/2024 17:26

MargoLivebetter · 25/04/2024 12:11

@YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME that's interesting and worrying. I grew up in the sticks and as kids we were always told not to go anywhere near pigeons. I'd never really appreciated why!

Thanks @Laiste it is 4 years of shit! I would never have said that pigeons bothered me in my life until I spent 4 years scraping baked bird shit off every outdoor surface.

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/uncategorised/pigeon-fanciers-lung

Pigeons can actually kill you, and not just by making you go a bit mad with their incessant cooking, shagging and shitting.

Spikes are useful, deterrent floppy bird things can help, net what you can, and consider spending some money on a man from the council....

Pigeon fancier's lung – GPnotebook

An article from the uncategorised section of GPnotebook: Pigeon fancier's lung.

https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/uncategorised/pigeon-fanciers-lung

AngryLikeHades · 25/04/2024 17:24

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 25/04/2024 12:00

My Dad was a stone restorer and he hated pigeons and it is believed that he caught an infection from them, which caused a chronic disease that followed him through life (E-Coli and it can trigger ITP/ TTP - nasty). He called them 'flying rats' and said they were the only bird that he saw that lived in their own poo, plus they carry very nasty diseases and their droppings destroy what it falls on, stone, wood you name it! I have wood pigeons in my garden, including a nest and they very different in behaviour to those that live in towns, but I still give them a wide berth. Pigeons actually carry the highest number of diseases in comparison to any other bird species. Pigeons also carry more diseases than rats, with their droppings being one of the core causes of disease. They also carry bird mites, which are extremely common among all pigeons. When you can and breeding is over, do all you can to get rid of them humanely. I am all for protecting the environment and very into allowing wildlife to flourish, just we made this issue and it has nasty consequences for us.

Christ, all my life I've been told they were dirty but I didn't know they were that bad!!!! Disgusting 😫

VolvoFan · 25/04/2024 17:14

The most polarising thread you've ever seen on Mumsnet so far. There's always room for more. Until it gets deleted and/or the user banned.

ChickenMaths · 25/04/2024 17:06

I think this is the most polarising thread I've ever seen on Mumsnet.

ThePaintedMoose · 25/04/2024 16:56

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request.

burnttoad · 25/04/2024 16:34

ReallyUAreAnElegantChap · 25/04/2024 10:49

Do people realise that the vermin are only in 'our' spaces because A we have destryed their habitats and B they dont have a clue about the notion that humans have of owning a particular space...

Human shit is toxic too, as is cats etc etc. Truly disgusting attitude to have towards a living being

People would justifiably not want human or any other shit all over their balcony.

IamaRevenant · 25/04/2024 16:25

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/04/2024 15:48

You've got to be joking; they're even worse, and though I've learned some species of gull are apparently endangered, surely nobody's going to tell me the pigeon is!!

Show quote history

I am indeed joking! Sorry if it wasn't obvious

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/04/2024 15:48

IamaRevenant · 25/04/2024 14:07

Maybe try to attract seagulls? The seagulls here in Bristol do an excellent job of reducing the pigeon population. I can barely ever go out without seeing a seagulls eating a pigeon on the street. Not entirely sure why they're here instead of missing off to Weston Super Mare or somewhere with actual sea.

Negatives may include picking up half eaten dead pigeons and listening to the constant squawking that starts at 3am. They're also a protected species so much as I'd like to borrow my dad's air rifle I cannot.

You've got to be joking; they're even worse, and though I've learned some species of gull are apparently endangered, surely nobody's going to tell me the pigeon is!!

ZsaZsaTheCat · 25/04/2024 15:18

Hire someone with a hawk-I saw a chap today in B &Q car park, employed to deter the pigeons.

Mynewnameis · 25/04/2024 15:15

I have wood pigeons so not quite as bad.. the magpies help keep numbers down!
But don't get me started on the effing seagulls. I'm considering moving house.
Op you are not unreasonable. Send the pigeons to the above people who hadn't had to deal with their noisy shitting ways.

flashspeed · 25/04/2024 15:14

Put some fake eggs in the nest, don't smash them

Poostickers · 25/04/2024 15:06

I find it incredibly difficult to understand how a person can hate a species with so much venom when they are not threatened, only mildly affected by them. They are wildlife, I don't think your deeds or rental agreement count for wildlife. Its a lot of energy to waste on something that makes you come across as a not very good person.

CountingCrones · 25/04/2024 15:04

MargoLivebetter · 25/04/2024 14:18

@IamaRevenant I want a seagull! (Although I am wondering if the police will prosecute them too for disrupting nesting feral pigeons?)

No you don’t! It’s like trading in pickpockets for the Mob.

Pigeons are assholes. Gulls are downright evil.

Efacsen · 25/04/2024 14:59

MargoLivebetter · 25/04/2024 14:18

@IamaRevenant I want a seagull! (Although I am wondering if the police will prosecute them too for disrupting nesting feral pigeons?)

Oh no! Don't wish for a seagull they are even worse

Our local council flies a Peregrine Falcon thro' the station a couple of times a year to rid it of pigeons AND seagulls

Maybe wish for one of those?

Maybe hire one for the same purposes