Hello Everyone
I have had a bird table in my back yard for just over 12 months now and it is really nice to see birds that I recognise from last winter returning to feed from our yard. We have a wide variety of birds that turn up throughout the day but just the past couple of weeks 4 pigeons have started turning up and they are SOOO greedy. They are eating ALL the food we are putting out for the smaller birds and of course they scare off the little ones.
These pigeons are not welcome anymore and I have told them that after yesterday they scoffed a full tables worth in a morning, that would usually last 4-5 days for the other birds.
Other than sending my thoughts to them, which I am doing anyway, I talk with several different animals telepathically, is there any known method that anyone knows of that will deter the pigeons from coming into our yard to feed ?
They aren't like the usual town pigeons (I live a few miles out of town), they are in fact very beautiful with very different markings to town pigeons, but no longer welcome.
Thanks in advance
-Orb-
RE: Pigeon pest
Get a cat[&:] No seriously...what about getting the kind of bird seed that can be 'hung' from various branches etc; so that the smaller birds can get their fair share of the food...it's just a thought...I 'hang' bird seed out and even though we do have a [sm=cat.gif]and two [sm=dogrun.gif] it does not seem to cause any problems to the birds.
luv & peace
stormdeva x
RE: Pigeon pest
Hi Stormdeva
Thank you for the reply. Sadly as much as I want cats we can't get them. My partners best friend is badly allergic to them, rashes, vomitting etc etc which pains me because being without a cat is like having a limb missing sometimes. This is the first period in my life where I have been without them in my life.
We do use a hanging feeder but the Doves and sparrows feed from the ground and the robins, thrushes and starlings like to use the table. There are a few different tits though that use the hanging feeders. Next door has a cat that occasionally pokes his head into the yard but never it seems when the pigeons are there.
One option we came up with was to put some thin bars of wood between the base and the roof of the table which would enable the smaller birds to still get onto the table, it would however look a bit like a bird prison [&:]
I was wondering if there was anything natural (other than a cat ;)) that may deter them, like cats dont tend to go near orange or lemon peel for example.
Orb
RE: Pigeon pest
Hi Orb
Mmmm...bit of a tough one...if you dont know your pigeons and I don't...maybe a bit of research on the internet...'bird/pigeon' search might do the trick...or someone on here might be a bit of a pigeon fancier and may have some ideas:eek:
Hope you get it sorted soon
luv & peace
stormdeva x
RE: Pigeon pest
Orb
I have the same problem, but mine is even worse!!!
They sound as though they are collared doves that you have, which are nice (same as mine) We started off with 2 now we have 9 at the last count! I didnt mind so much before, they cant get to the hanging food, and they need to eat as well, but the feeder i have on my bathroom window they can access and eat all of it. Trouble is they have started having sex on the feeder!! not a pretty sight first thing in the morning i can tell you![sm=nono.gif]
dont think there is much you can do really except try to lower the roof of the bird table (if it has one).
Oh by the way, i have 2 cats and it makes no difference at all!
RE: Pigeon pest
Hi Orb,
I am allergic to cats but have 2 Devon Rex cats. Their fur is different and they are know to be sort of hypo allergenic to most people. I am fine with them. Cornish Rexes are the same. So you could try getting your partner to have a sniff of these cats to see if they make your partner ill. However, some people ARE still allergic to them so it might be a bit risky as they may still make your partner ill. I took the risk because I love cats so much, but I am not nearly as allergic as you partner.
Lucy