How To Keep Pigeons Away From My Balcony

Pigeons are one of the guests that you are rather reluctant to welcome on the balcony. They cause a lot of dirt, are noisy and disrupt your usual daily routine.

But in the city it is hard to avoid that the pigeons show up on your balcony. The animals are so accustomed to people that you have lost a natural shyness.

How can you drive the pigeons from the balcony and what defensive measures are available to you? Feel comfortable on the balcony again by effectively fighting the pigeons.

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The damage caused by pigeons


The population of pigeons is constantly increasing in big cities. They feed on the food scraps that you can find in abundance in the city center in the summer. Undisturbed, they hatch their young and a new generation of pigeons grows up.

Pigeon droppings

On the balcony, the pigeons cause lasting damage. The pigeon droppings are not only visually less beautiful to look at, they also damage the facade and create an odor nuisance. Cleaning the pigeon droppings is a major challenge if the birds have also taken up residence on your balcony.

Transmission of diseases


In addition, pigeons can transmit diseases. They are considered intermediate hosts for various viruses, fungi and bacteria. In close contact with humans, these pathogens can jump over and cause serious illness. However, according to recent studies, the risk seems negligible. Nevertheless, if you do not want to expose your health to this danger, expel the pigeons on the balcony. Also, avoid any contact with the pigeons as well as their droppings. Then the transmission of diseases is as good as impossible.

Expel songbirds


While in summer the food supply is abundant, in winter it looks quite different. The large population of pigeons wants to find enough food even in the cold season. However, since city centers are less populated and food scraps are hard to find, pigeons look for ordinary birdhouses. There, the food is actually ready for songbirds and other species. But the pigeon makes itself comfortable there and drives away all other native species. Thus, the food supply for smaller birds becomes scarcer and the bird house fails in its purpose of helping just weaker birds.

Drive away the pigeons on the balcony with these measures


So there is a lot to be said for driving pigeons away from the balcony. If they nest there, it will be all the more difficult to convince the pigeons to leave. The sooner you implement the following defensive measures, the more effective they will be and will effectively beat the pigeons into flight.

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Optical measures

Pigeons are used to humans, but they are still overwhelmed with some visual defense methods. The following measures are simple, but the effect is usually short-lived. Then the pigeons get used to the sight and increasingly lose their shyness.

Pigeons are afraid above all of natural enemies. The birds have great respect for ravens and do not go near them. You can take advantage of this by placing a dummy on the balcony. For this purpose, there are various pigeon scares that look good as a decorative element and keep the pigeons away. So that the artificial ravens do not lose their effect, they should change places at regular intervals. In this way, there always seems to be a new threat to the pigeons.

Optical elements that blind the pigeons also prove to be effective. These include, for example, CDs or aluminum foil. These you stretch on the balcony. In the wind these elements move and shines the sun, pigeons are dazzled. These will thereupon avoid the balcony.

Small windmills are nice to look at. These also prove to be effective in repelling pigeons. The windmills move uncontrolled and are perceived by the pigeons as a danger.

Acoustic defense methods


The pigeon gets used to the optical method relatively quickly. These are considered clever animals and can only be outwitted for a short period of time.

Acoustic defenses are somewhat longer effective. Pigeons are sensitive to loud noises, such as the barking of a dog or a simple bang. Even the sounds of a bird of prey cause the pigeons to startle and take flight.

For the acoustic defense of the pigeons you can use a simple radio. On it, you play the sounds, so that the pigeons will not show up on your balcony.

In the professional environment, there are special devices that have a greater volume and simulate a variety of birds of prey or sounds. To prevent pigeons from getting used to them, the devices play the sounds randomly.

Keep in mind that with most acoustic repellent systems, there is also a habituation effect. Moreover, they are also a nuisance for your neighbors, so you’d better use more tolerable methods.

Protect your balcony


You can also use simple means to prevent the pigeon from entering your balcony. If you have a cat, it is a good idea to put up nets. With them you make the balcony cat-proof and at the same time prevent pigeons from settling there.

A frequently used method to keep pigeons away from a place is to attach spikes. You may also place these on your balcony to keep the uninvited guests away. However, the spikes do not look very friendly and give the impression that you are turning your balcony into a small fortress.

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Remove nests


If you discover the pigeons and they feel comfortable on your balcony, you might create nests there. Do not hesitate and put on gloves as well as breathing mask. Remove first small nesting places even before the pigeons start to breed.

If the pigeons already start to raise their offspring, the eviction is a task for the professional. Here you should take professional help to dispose of the nests properly. The cost is here, at over 100 euros, although the work is done quickly by the professional.

Do not feed

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If the pigeons hang around on your balcony, you might feel sorry for the animals. After all, they are hungry in the winter and take long distances to get food.

If you only mean well and want to protect the pigeons from starvation, this could soon take revenge. Because it won’t be long before more and more birds show up on your balcony and want a piece of the proverbial pie. Therefore, do not even begin to feed the pigeons.

By the way, it is possible for landlords to prevent feeding. Check your rental agreement to see if there is a corresponding regulation. If you violate the ban, an extraordinary termination could follow, as the landlord suffers damage.

How to remove pigeon droppings


With the methods of pigeon defense presented here, you can effectively drive away birds on the balcony. After you have the balcony to yourself again, you discover the droppings. Some of the pigeon droppings have penetrated firmly into the substance and cannot be washed off easily.

Nevertheless, you should first try it with hot water. Dissolve the pigeon droppings with hot water and clean your balcony.

You can remove dried pigeon droppings with a spatula. Here you must be careful not to scratch the surface.

For the floor, household vinegar proves to be an effective secret tip. After a short exposure time, the pigeon droppings can be removed relatively easily.

Remove the pigeon droppings, then urgently wear gloves as well as a respiratory mask. There may be pathogens in the droppings, contact with which you want to avoid in any case. Alternatively, cleaning companies will take over a professional cleaning here, so that your balcony appears like new again.

Is a rent reduction permissible in the case of pigeons on the balcony?


The balcony is an important retreat for many tenants in the city. There, even surrounded by houses, you get some nature and can switch off from the hustle and bustle of city life.

If your balcony is infested by a large number of pigeons, the peace and quiet is over. You will no longer be able to use the balcony, or you will be able to use it only in a limited way.

If this is the case, you must first inform the landlord. The landlord is then obliged to take care of this problem. He will try to drive the birds away from the balcony with a suitable pigeon repellent.

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If the measures are ineffective or the landlord does not take sufficient care of your concern, a rent reduction is permissible. A reduction of 10 percent seems possible. Inform yourself before the reduction at the Mieterschutzbund to make the reduction legally secure.

Which pigeon repellent methods are not permitted?


Not every means is permitted in the fight against the pigeon. Although the birds are considered pests and attempts are made to reduce the population, this does not give you the right to use an injurious pigeon defense.

Therefore, you must refrain from all measures that can lead to injuries. This includes traps or systems with electric shocks, which are used against the pigeon plague.

It is also not allowed to poison the animals or even to fight them with chemical means. In this case, the birds are injured in a way that violates animal welfare.

When repelling pigeons on the balcony, it is better to use the optical or acoustic measures mentioned here. These are unpleasant for the pigeons, but do not attack them.

The effective pigeon defense


You should not take pigeons on the balcony lightly. It may be interesting to watch the birds in the beginning, but in time the negative aspects will outweigh them. Pigeons contaminate the balcony, transmit diseases and interfere with a relaxing afternoon.

Therefore, rely on pigeon repellent at an early stage, so that the animals do not feel comfortable on the balcony and go to another place. Optical and acoustic systems prove to be effective, but you need to vary the defense somewhat so that the pigeons do not get used to it. Permanent protection is provided by nets or spikes that secure your balcony against pigeons.

Author

  • How To Keep Pigeons Away From My Balcony

    Meet James Jones, a passionate gardening writer whose words bloom with the wisdom of an experienced horticulturist. With a deep-rooted love for all things green, James has dedicated his life to sharing the art and science of gardening with the world. James's words have found their way into countless publications, and his gardening insights have inspired a new generation of green thumbs. His commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship shines through in every article he crafts.

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