how do i kill pigeons in my garden?

[Orang Utan]

we have an inquisitive squirrel too - he keeps his nut store in a plant pot on the patio step.
he's also come in the house to watch telly before.
my cat just sat there.

 

[ajk]

Nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

 

[ExtraRefined]

some sort of massive gun or canon i reckon.

http://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm

 

[Bakunin]

For all your pigeon-slaughtering needs:

The armoured exterior protects you against pigeons crapping on you, the flamethrower ensures roast dove for your evening dinner parties and the caterpillar tracks mean you can solve all your parking woes by simply parking directly on top of another car.

The Sherman Tank: Vehicle Of Champions.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

*shakes fist*

damn you steal my line

 

[Athos]

Unless you can get a sparrowhawk to nest nearby, you can either deter them with spikes, poison them, or shoot them. However, to poison them might cause a problem if your cat eats the poisoned carcass. On the other hand, they're very, very difficult to kill cleanly with a air gun; essentially, you need to be confident that you can get a clean headshot pretty much every time. What about a model bird of prey as a deterrent?

 

[Ceej]

What would you poison them with? They ignore rat poison. I've got five generations of the feckers living on my balcony and the mess is indescribable - I need John Noakes and a ladder to chisel this crap off. All ideas for shifting the buggers gratefully received. Halfway up a tower block so cat and tank options impractical.

 

[dodgepot]

What would you poison them with? They ignore rat poison.

not if you cunningly put it into a different box - one with PIGEON POISON written on the outside. that *always* fools them

 

[quimcunx]

What would you poison them with? They ignore rat poison. I've got five generations of the feckers living on my balcony and the mess is indescribable - I need John Noakes and a ladder to chisel this crap off. All ideas for shifting the buggers gratefully received. Halfway up a tower block so cat and tank options impractical.

A net over your balcony?

 

[Ceej]

Tried that...they broke it - these pigeons are like the sodding marines. I actuallly wrote 'Pigeon Treats' on the box, but they were having none of it.

 

[quimcunx]

Chicken wire?

 

[Ceej]

Hard to secure stuff like that because the block of flats is aluminium-cladded, and we're not allowed to make holes in it. Netting was stuck under strips of wood secured with No More Nails glue. I've tried wet cat litter, geraniums and lavender, feeding them pearl barley, plastic owls, scarer things... I need to just put a lid on the balcony, I reckon. Hate the bastard flea-ridden flying rats with a passion.

 

[longdog]

Crossbow?

It's illegal to shoot any animal, including vermin, with a bow or crossbow.

 

[longdog]

I'm not sure you'd be allowed to use an air rifle in a built up area, which is fair enough imo.

It's illegal to use an airgun within 15 metres of a road in such a way as to endanger or impede any road user*. It's quite legal to use an airgun in your own garden if it's used correctly which basically means there is a backstop for any pellets that miss.

Shooting down from a first floor window is best as it means the ground will act as a backstop. Shooting birds in trees is stupid and irresponsible. Even the best shot in the world misses sometimes and you have to know where that pellet is going to come down.

Or bicarb, think it's that not aspirin that makes them blow up.

Urban myth.

*It's almost certainly illegal beyond that distance to impede or endanger road users with an airgun but not as that specific offence.

 

[geminisnake]

My back garden has a mile of fields between me and the next road It is quite legal for me to shoot things there.

 

[likesfish]

air rifle with silencer shoot the fuckers on the ground sorted

 

[8115]

Bird scarer?

 

[Mrs Magpie]

some kind of eagle or possibly a sparrowhawk. i also saw a seagull eating a pigeon in the street the other day so maybe that would work.

Sparrowhawks are too small. You need a Harris Hawk. Their main food is pigeons. They are native to the US but are captive bred here.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Hawk patrol clears town of pigeon nuisance

OLIVER GILLIE

Friday, 10 June 1994



George, a Harris hawk, stretched his wings and flew off to perch on a ledge above the library in the centre of Woking, Surrey. As he did so, pigeons scattered and flew off in all directions.

George and his mate Harriet are used by Woking Borough Council to frighten away pigeons. And since they started their duties a few weeks ago, council officials believe the number of pigeons and the amount of pigeon mess in the town centre pedestrian precinct has declined.

Alan Wiles, head of environmental services in Woking, said: 'Pigeon mess on seats in the town centre is unsightly and causes damage to clothes because it is acid. It also causes damage to buildings. We have tried other means of preventing pigeon nuisance but none are very effective.' The hawks patrolled the centre of Woking every day for the first week and now visit once a week as a reminder to the pigeons.

The Harris hawk took off again and perched on top of the car park beside Sainsbury's. Alarmed pigeons flew off, taking care to keep above the hawk so it was unable to dive-bomb them.

David van Vynck, the hawk handler, said: 'The Harris hawk comes from South America where it feeds on small animals and birds. The pigeons can easily outfly the hawk but they don't like it - so it frightens them off.'

George flew up to the church roof where he found a comfortable perch on the parapet and did not want to come down. Seven pigeons watched him from the ridge of the roof, looking curious but unconcerned. Mr van Vynck produced a dead day-old chick from the back pocket of his jeans and whistled. George looked first with one eye then with the other. He thought, then looked both ways again before flying down for an easy meal.

You can also try dummy hawks but you have to keep moving them. Flying hawk silhouettes work too, but again, you have to keep moving them from place to place.

 

[Diamond]

With bared teeth and vigour.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

...and a hawk costume.

 

[bluestreak]

Fire.