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How to deal with bloody gulls?!

160 replies

Seagullhell · 30/07/2025 09:21

Posting in AIBU shamelessly for traffic, sorry, but getting rather desperate for some help!

We moved to our new house earlier this year. Our bedroom is in the extension with a flat roof, upon which, we quickly found out, are nesting seagulls. And OMG, the NOISE 😭

It annoys me a fair amount, but I'm generally capable of going back to sleep after being woken. But it's starting to make my DH ill. He's always been a light sleeper, so when they start up at 4/5am stomping around (it actually sounds like they're dropping rocks), he can't get back to sleep. He works in a high pressure job and has a long commute half the week. It's reached the point where he's called in sick - in nearly 20 years I've known him to do this once, maybe twice.

Since this all started we've discovered he has a B12 deficiency, and he's waiting for an appointment to delve into and hopes to get injections prescribed which we hope will help with the lightness of his sleep generally. But what else can we do?!

He tried sleeping on the sofa - can't sleep. The other rooms are occupied or face a busy main road. He's tried earplugs, but can't sleep in them. He's taking B12 tablets until his docs appointment along with magnesium to help, but they don't seem to do anything.

We've got to the point where we can't help but wonder about just kicking the bloody nest off the roof. We know this is illegal, so we won't, but it's hard watching him reach breaking point and not feeling a bit murderous.

We need tips to get him through the summer where the babies will have flown the nest and we can engage professionals to do something to hopefully prevent them from coming back.

Can anyone suggest any other supplements, aids, remedies etc to help him get better quality sleep until that point?

(Also any suggestions about things that will actually work to get rid of the bastard gulls highly appreciated too!)

OP posts:
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5
DustyMaiden · 30/07/2025 13:52

I stayed at a hotel recently that had a big bird of prey statue to frighten them away.

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/07/2025 13:52

Don’t live in Cornwall do you OP? They are a bloody nightmare where I am. I got floored by one a couple of weeks ago. It’s endless here, 24 hours a day. Bastards!

Bloke across the road must have had enough yesterday. His roof is now nest free. Brave bugger!!

Gemmawemma9 · 30/07/2025 13:49

You have my sympathies OP. I couldn’t stand this. What about one of those fake hawks that deters birds?

afaloren · 30/07/2025 13:49

Could he try a snoozeband? They’re a soft band that go around the head rather than in the ears and you can play stuff through them. White noise might help?

Zanoni · 30/07/2025 13:48

What is the noise that is waking your husband that sounds like “dropping rocks”
That doesn’t sound like nesting gulls, we have them nesting on our roof and you can hear them calling out but no banging?
They do however stomp their feet on our conservatory roof and that is very loud, apparently they are trying to mimic rain to tempt worms to the surface.
Are you sure it’s not that instead of the babies?

Fragmentedbrain · 30/07/2025 13:46

0LIVESANDWINE · 30/07/2025 13:25

unfortunately we moved in and took all the gulls food from the sea. That’s why they are here.
you can put spikes all over your chimney to stop them nesting there, that’s what my neighbours do.
I feed our gulls. I also wear Loop Ear Plugs

Why... Why would you feed gulls?

Rallentanda · 30/07/2025 13:45

I've known people take a powerful hose to the roof to wash off any attempt at nest building. Obviously it depends how high up you are/how accessible it is. Too late for this season but next.

DeanStockwelll · 30/07/2025 13:41

Is there insulation between your ceiling and roof ? Can more be added?
Of not can you add a false ceiling in your bedroom and insulate between the real and false ceiling?

I know it's a lot of work but it works.
We had to do this at work during covid, there is a big portacabin that was used as a office to help keep staff apart but it has a plastic roof and we are right next to a river .
The gulls and Canada geese sounded like they were attempting to try out for the hob nail boot tap dancing squad !
Hard board , plaster board and loft insulation improved things a huge amount.

0LIVESANDWINE · 30/07/2025 13:26

Also they are particularly noisy right now because of the babies but they will calm down in September October

0LIVESANDWINE · 30/07/2025 13:25

unfortunately we moved in and took all the gulls food from the sea. That’s why they are here.
you can put spikes all over your chimney to stop them nesting there, that’s what my neighbours do.
I feed our gulls. I also wear Loop Ear Plugs