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Original poster

Humane ways to minimise pigeons in my garden?

157 replies

SpainToday · 14/04/2025 12:37

Next door have a bird feeder in their garden, their choice, but obviously we get more birds (particularly pigeons) in our garden as a result, and I hate them. They leave such a mess and spoil my enjoyment of the garden. We have a cat who is too elderly to provide much help!

Any suggestions? Short of hiring a sniper I’m not sure what we can do?

Posting here for traffic

Thread title edited by MNHQ on OP's request, to make it clear she was referring to pigeons specifically

OP posts:
Dingleberryrock · 14/04/2025 17:54

OccasionalHope · 14/04/2025 12:44

Get a second, younger cat.

Horrible

BurntBroccoli · 14/04/2025 17:53

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 14:21

Can you tell your neighbour you saw a rat under her bird feeder?

I used to keep pet rats. They were very lovable and extremely clever.

Winifredtabago · 14/04/2025 17:51

SpainToday · 14/04/2025 16:42

Now there's an idea ......

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No dont do that- if she stops putting food out that's all the garden birds that will suffer. How many pigeons are we talking about that they disturb you so much? Pigeons can be so funny to watch.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 14/04/2025 17:49

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 17:34

I work with animals and have touched thousands of pigeons. I’m still alive. No disease. Never been harmed by one, I find them very peaceful friendly birds.

We also have them in the garden and again have never had an issue. They do no harm at all. The hate for wildlife in the UK is shameful.

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👏 Well said!

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 14/04/2025 17:47

What a depressing thread! Someone moaning about birds. Good grief! Confused As a pp said, what is the world coming to when people are whinging about one of the most precious things on the planet?! FFS! Hmm

And I wish people wouldn't be so horrible about pigeons! They were our friends throughout the war, and helped humans a great deal. Now some people treat them like they're vermin! The only real vermin on the planet is humans! We are the only species who are taking over, and wrecking the planet!

What a truly horrible thread! Hmm

.

Fluffypussycat · 14/04/2025 17:46

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 14/04/2025 13:18

Next doors tried that and the pigeons couldn't give a shit. One of the was perched on the pole the kite was attached to yesterday 😂. My garden is full of birds, including pigeons, and also we have birds of prey circling constantly -they even kill pigeons in our garden occasionally as I have to dispose of the carcass. Hasn't decreased the pigeon population at all. They are at an all time high this year, farmers around here are constantly shooting them in the fields.

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That’s not quite right. Pigeons give many s*s. 🤣

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:42

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 17:34

I work with animals and have touched thousands of pigeons. I’m still alive. No disease. Never been harmed by one, I find them very peaceful friendly birds.

We also have them in the garden and again have never had an issue. They do no harm at all. The hate for wildlife in the UK is shameful.

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Yes I like wildlife, but pigeons are growing in numbers and pushing other species of birds out. I also strongly dislike cats because some of them kill birds.

Sixpence39 · 14/04/2025 17:39

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:22

Pigeons are not officially classed as vermin but are considered to be because of the damage they do to buildings. Their poo causes a mess and can build up. They also carry diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.
I just googled all this.

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Yes, but dogs and cats also carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. So do animals that people eat. But we haven't labelled them as 'pests' because we see them as useful to us. Selfish. Humans have collectively decided that pigeons and rats are vermin. If you take proper precautions - handwashing and not disturbing their nests - there's almost no risk to you. Just let them live their lives!

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 14/04/2025 17:38

For god's sake.

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 17:34

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:22

Pigeons are not officially classed as vermin but are considered to be because of the damage they do to buildings. Their poo causes a mess and can build up. They also carry diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.
I just googled all this.

Show quote history

I work with animals and have touched thousands of pigeons. I’m still alive. No disease. Never been harmed by one, I find them very peaceful friendly birds.

We also have them in the garden and again have never had an issue. They do no harm at all. The hate for wildlife in the UK is shameful.

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:33

Morningsleepin · 14/04/2025 17:30

I suppose you saw sparrows as vermin too before they started to get scarce

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No, it is just pigeons.

Loveautumnhatewinter · 14/04/2025 17:33

Get a fox?

Morningsleepin · 14/04/2025 17:30

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 13:01

OP, I love birds but I count pigeons as vermin.
You could get a fake raptor bird on a string, a bit like a ballon. Someone in our street does this just after they have planted seed.

I suppose you saw sparrows as vermin too before they started to get scarce

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 14/04/2025 17:30

Pigeons are just looking for food and living their lives like the rest of us.

We invade their territory.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2025 17:27

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:22

Pigeons are not officially classed as vermin but are considered to be because of the damage they do to buildings. Their poo causes a mess and can build up. They also carry diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.
I just googled all this.

Show quote history

From what I can see that’s just feral pigeons, not woodpigeons or any of the various doves.

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 17:22

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 16:51

Why are pigeons vermin?

They are literally doing what almost every other bird does.

How can you be offended by a pigeon?

Pigeons are not officially classed as vermin but are considered to be because of the damage they do to buildings. Their poo causes a mess and can build up. They also carry diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.
I just googled all this.

Autumnnow · 14/04/2025 17:19

Oh ffs what is wrong with some people?!?! What a disappointing post to read. It's a privilege to have birds in the garden.

Emoleno · 14/04/2025 16:54

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 16:51

Why are pigeons vermin?

They are literally doing what almost every other bird does.

How can you be offended by a pigeon?

They're not.

Fourpawsblack · 14/04/2025 16:51

Why are pigeons vermin?

They are literally doing what almost every other bird does.

How can you be offended by a pigeon?

ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2025 16:48

Myblueclematis · 14/04/2025 15:43

The pigeons on the fence kissing and necking, not the neighbours in case I didn't write that very clearly 😂

I often have a pair of fucking* pigeons on top of my arbour.

*description, not swearing at them.

Alifemadelessordinary · 14/04/2025 16:45

We're lucky enough to have lots of birds and a beautiful tree at the top of our garden which sits directly above our patio area.

As you can imagine it's covered in bird poo at times. We've put a sail up to protect the garden furniture.

Could you do the same?

Original poster
SpainToday · 14/04/2025 16:42

Flossflower · 14/04/2025 14:21

Can you tell your neighbour you saw a rat under her bird feeder?

Now there's an idea ......

OP posts:
GeorgianaM · 14/04/2025 16:13

Dress up as bird of prey and every now and then go outside and do a lap of your garden, shouting, 'CAW! CAW!' as a deterrent to keep any of the birds trespassing in your garden. 🙄

ItGhoul · 14/04/2025 16:01

I love birds but I count pigeons as vermin

Then you do not, in fact, 'love birds'.

misssunshine4040 · 14/04/2025 15:46

Reallybadidea · 14/04/2025 12:43

I would say the best thing you could do would be to stay inside with a sun lamp and leave the garden to the birds.

I honestly despair of the human race sometimes.

This!

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