Forum Topic

Pigeon problem

Hi,Does anyone know who to contact to get some help from the council with a feral pigeon problem? A neighbour has been over-feeding what is now a large flock. They've taken to roosting on our roof and side passages and parapets above us and the mess daily is unpleasant. I emailed pestcontrol@hounslow.gov.uk but they didn't reply. Any thoughts?Thanks.

Quentin Jones ● 2210d15 Comments

Horrible problem and not easily fixed as your neighbour will continue to feed the pigeons.  Flying a hawk might be possible but difficult in residential areas and very expensive.  Possibly worth trying a decoy hawk?  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extendable-4m-Pole-Bird-Repeller-Scarer-Flying-Hawk-Kite-Garden-Protection-Black/353187582626?hash=item523b9ed2a2:g:p~0AAOSwjXlfTb0a

Viv Griffiths ● 2209d

Tried all of those types of things (as well as asking her not to and explaining the issues on numerous occasions), but to no avail. I can see support pages etc offered by some councils on web, but i can't find anything from LBH unfortunately. 

Rob Reynolds ● 2209d

You are not alone. My daughter has recently moved into a house where her next door neighbours also feed the pigeons with the results you describe!Obviously she doesn't want to make a fuss as the newcomer but it's a tricky one. The least provocative solution would be if the council did get involved, presenting it as a health hazard to the neighbourhood (which it is). It doesn't sound as if there's much hope of that though.....Feeding foxes  is also problematic . I bet I'm going to wish I hadn't written that!

Bruce Hammal ● 2209d

I used to feed the birds (Tuppence a bag) but stopped when the pigeons arrived.

Carl Wynne ● 2209d

Ditto I'm afraid, though it's wood pigeons that are the bane of my life here rather that the ferals. Not only do they scoff every leaf and bud in the garden but they then park themselves in the highest tree and relieve themselves copiously on the seating area underneath. Of course in the countryside where they belong they decimate crops and hence are given short shrift  by farmers. Unfortunately letting loose with a 12 bore in Chiswick could have unintended consequences so I restrain myself to waving my arms and shouting at them! It's a total waste of time of course.

Bruce Hammal ● 2209d

It used to be legal to kill them humanely without a license (e.g. with an air rifle, as long as you follow the various rules governing air rifles), but the law changed about a year ago, and now you need to apply for a license. Maybe you'd be able to get a license. But that would probably upset your neighbour, and it does make a mess that needs clearing up.There are plastic spikes you can buy on Amazon. I've used them on a ledge on my house, and it's completely stopped the pigeons sitting on the ledge and making a mess on my patio. They come with glue, and you can just glue them on, so they are easy to install.

Simon Pedley ● 2209d

You don't have a pigeon problem. You have a neighbour problem.  As always, animals are blamed for the stupidity - as well as the intolerance - of humans.  We need to co-exist harmoniously. If you don't have the skills to come to an agreement with your neighbour re where to feed, that is your problem, it is not the problem of the pigeons who just want to survive.  I have been having a problem with someone who feeds foxes 10 m from me by our alleyway gates and my dogs go mad when they see the foxes coming for the food, are slim enough to duck under the alley gates and can pull their leads through my hands and end up on the road, obvioulsy estremely dangerous for dogs and foxes.  We are slowly negotiating that she feeds them in the alleyway nearer her, as opposed to 10 metres from my front door,  but for some reason she is reluctant.  I am not against feeding foxes, I do it myself, but not where it is going to cause problems.

Claire Moran ● 2209d

LicenCe to kill ...

Anne England ● 2209d

1) Klaxon horn.2) Jets of water stray from an industrial water pistol/lance.

Jim Lawes ● 2208d

You could try one of the bird sound scarer things... They emit warning bird sounds which scare away the pigeons. They might even keep them away from your neighbours.Bad side is they scare away all the birds.Good news is that if you play it long and loud enough you might p1ss off your neighbours.

Richard Potts ● 2208d

So, do we need to feed rats? I’d rather not.

Stewart Jones ● 2208d

Have you tried explaining nicely to your neighbour how this is presenting difficulties for you ? You may have better luck than did Rob, as they may be more reasonable than his neighbours seemed to be.

Keith Iddon ● 2208d

The disastrous changes to the General Licences scheme has resulted in considerably more problems with wood pigeons on farm land and empty larders for those of us who use them to supplement summer food supplies.This is likely to put pressure on the rural population and result in more wood pigeons in towns.

Charlotte Kasner ● 2203d

Not that it is any help, but there is a lady who I see almost daily feed the pigeons on Chiswick High road. She always brings a huge bag on grains that she throws into the street causing hundreds of pigeons to appear. I di tell her once that it was illegal after she asked me to move. This happened opposite Chiswick Police station, to which I told her when she argued with me to go in the police station and to ask them. Not that I dislike pigeons as I quite like them actually. But the lady was clearly short of a brain cell and having hundreds of pigeons in one area on a Saturday when people are trying pass was a nuisnace.

chris poole ● 2202d

as well as her asking me to move out the way so that she could throw grain everywhere on Chiswick High road on a Saturday. A short lady in her late fifties with greyish/black hair with a gigantic bag of grain.

chris poole ● 2202d