Humane ways to minimise pigeons in my garden?

[SpainToday]

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

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.

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

What a depressing thread! Someone moaning about birds. Good grief! 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!

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!

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👏 Well said!

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.

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

Horrible

You strongly dislike cats because sometimes some of them may go into hunting mode when outside? Do you dislike all animals that hunt prey?

Totally agree. Bet op has a plastic lawn.

Do you know how many birds are killed each year by the artificial predictor we introduced?

Put up a big sign saying "NO PIGEONS" that'll do it

No but it's not an issue the RSPB are worried about so I dont think you need to be. Many birds, rabbits etc are killed by cars every year too, we arent going to stop driving cars because of it.

You know what I hate. Cats shitting in the garden where my toddler plays. Train your stupid cats to shit in your own garden. But I wouldn’t be allowed to come in here talking about killing them op.

I love pigeons and any type of bird and feed them. I also feed the badgers and foxes. They're all welcome in my garden. Even slugs and spiders.

You cant train cats to do their business in one garden and not another 😆

What a horrid attitude. We are lucky to share this planet with amazing animals, yes even pigeons.
I have so many different bird species in my garden. They are amazing.

Yes we all have a place on this earth. I'm scared of spiders and think they look pretty horrid, but I definitely would never deliberately kill one. Even though they are inside my home 😳

I think OP should have replaced the word ‘birds’ with the word ‘pigeons’ in the thread title - it would have aroused far less hostility. The neighbour is most likely feeding the birds with cheap grain-heavy bird food, which tends to attract pigeons. There are other bird food mixes that are designed to appeal to smaller birds and which pigeons don’t like, but they are more expensive.

Pigeons are very happy to eat sunflower kernels - it’s the type of feeder which determines if they can feed or not.
Use hanging feeders and/or ‘cages’ with mesh that excludes larger birds.

TBF there are so many pigeons around now you'd probably have them whether or not next door have a bird feeder.

We had one recently which was eating all the blossom off the plum tree and I have wrapped a web of black thread from branch to branch which apparently they don't like. Other than that I try to live and let live, although I'd much rather other types of birds.

Pigeons are dreadful nesters and seem to go out of their way to build nests in the most hazardous, unsuitable conditions. One of my garden pigeons made a completely unsheltered nest on my wall, I didn’t let my cat out for weeks because he would have killed her.

You can’t do anything, I’m afraid. Pigeons can (and do) go wherever they like. They are also protected by law.

Have you tried showing the pigeons a copy of the land registry plans?

I don't mind pigeons but I wish I could stop them eating my seeds and bulbs if anyone has any ideas?

Can't stand pigeons. Always having sex and shitting in front of me

Winifredtabago don't be obtuse. Cats are fed by people. They just kill for the sake of it and we are meant to put up with up because the owners don't have to take responsibility. The local cats already worked its way through the robin in my garden.