Fouling on a shopfront, blocked gutters and a roost above the doorway: pigeons keep coming back to buildings that give them shelter, and proofing is what changes that.
Feral pigeons are creatures of habit. Once a ledge, parapet or recess gives them shelter from rain and wind and a view of food on the ground, they return daily and pass the habit on. A building that has been used for years carries the smell and the droppings of old roosts, which draws new birds. Scaring them away with a noise or a plastic owl might work for a day, but the birds quickly learn there is no danger.
Sutton in Ashfield has older town-centre property and many later estates, and the pigeon problems differ. Older commercial buildings often have deep window recesses, string courses and ornate cornices with plenty of flat ledges. Later flats and light industrial units tend to have flat canopies, gutters and open bays under roof overhangs, which are just as inviting.
Droppings are acidic and corrode stonework, paint and metal over time. They block gutters and downpipes, make steps and pavements slippery, and spoil signage and entrances. Dried droppings can carry organisms that cause illness, so cleaning has to be done carefully with protective kit. Nests and feathers can also bring in mites and beetles that find their way indoors.
Proofing physically stops birds from landing or entering. The right choice depends on the building and what it looks like from the street.
Wild birds are protected by law, so everything we do has to be lawful and humane. Pigeons are not treated the same as every other pest, and nesting birds with eggs or young must be handled in line with the rules. We will explain which methods are suitable before any work starts, and cleaning of old droppings is usually done first so the surface is ready.
Timing matters when birds are nesting. Pigeons can breed through most of the year, and removing an active nest is restricted, so work may need to be planned around eggs and young. Access also affects the job: a first-floor ledge above a pavement may need a platform or a safe working arrangement, which is why a survey is worth doing before anyone quotes a figure for netting or wire along a roofline.
Tell us about the building, the ledges involved and how high the work is. We can survey and advise, and fixed cost pricing means you know what you are agreeing to before work begins. Call 0115 937 5117 to arrange a visit.
Moving food may reduce numbers, but birds that already roost on a ledge will stay while the shelter remains. Proofing the roost removes the reason they come back.
Properly fitted spikes only stop birds from landing. Poor fitting can trap or injure them, so installation matters. Netting or other options may suit a building better, and we will discuss which is right.
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. Prices are fixed and there is no call-out charge.
