To ask how to rid my garden of pooing pigeons

[DastardlyPigeon]

A couple of years ago a pair of pigeons built a nest in the bush next to my patio. I thought the "babies" were quite cute until the whole family started shitting all over my patio.

They're back again, eyeing up the bush for this year's nest. I'm constantly sweeping up poo and worried about the dog treading it in.

Oh and when the patio doors are open, they sometimes make a flying visit into the kitchen - nearly giving me a heart attack.

Any ideas how I can discourage them from my garden? Please don't suggest anything cruel like getting a cat.

Keep knocking the nesting material down before they build it, or cut the bush right back?

Following. You can get all kinds of scary fake birds on Amazon but not sure how effective fhey are

i feel your pain we have them nesting under our solar panels. We have a specialist coming to relocate them this week, apparently in a legally permissible way

imm annoyed that my dh actually wanted to encourage birds to the garden so we went to town on fancy feeders etc and basically what we’ve ended up with is endless pigeons, crows and squirrels

I have two cats, doesn't deter the dozy pigeons, so I bought a water pistol, they don't like being squirted.
However, it hasn't moved them on, so I too would be I interested in a permanent solution!

Problem is the bush provides privacy.

Shiny tape (buy it on the roll from Amazon) cut into strips and tied to their favourite sit around and shit tree has moved them on to a more suitable spot in the garden here.

They were shitting on my washing and the decking. Now they shit on my shed. I don’t mind that.

The tape can be a bit noisy flapping in the wind but you get used to it.

We have a specialist coming to relocate them this week, apparently in a legally permissible way

Please will you update me when they've been. How much is it costing.

DH's nan had someone come and shoot the pigeons who were pooing on her conservatory roof.

Buy a couple of decoy birds. That should send them away if they think other birds have nested there .

Spray anywhere they perch with WD40. They don't like it for a reason I can't remember and don't care about. It was possibly they don't like getting it on their feet but not sure.

Find a way to scare them. They have excellent memory for things and places that made them feel threatened so avoid coming back. Smash the nest up while they're building it is a good one.

Clean the patio with diluted Zoflora.

Tie old cds to the bushes on string. Makes less noise than dazzle tape.

Chuck a jug of water at them.

I've had success with all these.

you can take some of my seagulls, pigeons avoid my garden if the seagulls are hanging about

Air rifle

Pretend hawks to scare them away. Or get a real hawk!

Rather than getting rid of the birds, can you position something below the nest as a 'poo shelf' to catch it before it hits the patio?

I have this issue but in a tree which is taller than my house, so getting up to dangle strips or attach a false bird is impossible ☹️ they poo all over the patio and the washing. Very difficult to enjoy the garden tbh, I’m actually considering getting rid of the tree!

Alas not. They like to potter on the patio, pooing as they go.

No solutions OP - I have a balcony and stupidly put a bird feeder out for all the lovely little blue tits and robins - I have now attracted all the local pigeons and magpies too and spend my whole time cleaning pigeon poo off that seems to dry in an instant.

I have shooed, clapped my hands, ranted but nothing seems to deter them and I’m now concerned about taking the bird feeder down as the smaller birds feed every day for it - wish I’d never started it 😄

It is illegal to disturb their nests https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-surveys-and-licences

You can deter them using brightly coloured strips (though some magpies might like them!) or cover the bush with anti bird netting, it doesn’t have to stay all year just long enough for them to go somewhere else.

Some deterrents can be pretty as well as functional. Amazon link

Pigeons are a protected species
In England and Wales - all wild birds, their young, nests and eggs are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.._
It's an offence to:
• To damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird in use or being built.
• To destroy or remove any egg of any wild bird
• To take, kill or injure any wild bird or their young
Source - RSPCA

Prevent them from nesting. If you don't you will have them return every year. I have them same. Ours our wood pigeons. I like their coos, but not at 5am!
Silver tape, cut back bush. It should grown again.

Ps. Preventing them nesting is not illegal.

Pigeons are notorious for not needing much of a nest

Even if it was legal to move their nests etc, Once they are ready to lay their eggs then they will regardless of what awaits. Its why you see Pigeons nests consisting of three cigarettes in a shop door way.

Like a human giving birth, once the process starts they only have so much time, and a forced to make a decision even if there Is no where suitable

I put a bird feeder on my window only to find the starlings and magpies trying to kill the bluetits and robins. It was carnage.

I put a small wire storage basket with spaces just big enough for the little birds over it (from amazon.. about a fiver), and problem solved! Big birds can't get anywhere near it, and little birds happily feeding