Wageningen study shows lasers prevent avian flu’s spread

Wageningen study shows lasers prevent avian flu’s spread

Wageningen University released the results of research on a poultry farm that suffered visits from wild waterfowl, which are a source of the avian influenza virus (AIV).

The study revealed that when the laser was in use, a 99.7% wild bird reduction rate was recorded.

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), part of the Wageningen University, previously discovered a mallard, which is a species identified as a high-risk bird for carrying the avian flu virus, was frequenting a free-range area of a poultry farm from sunset to sunrise. This was notable from November to February, the typical bird migration period and when the avian influenza virus is more prevalent. Therefore, chickens in the free-range area had increased exposure to the virus, due to the regular occurrence of wild waterfowl during this time.

pigeon patrol pigeons

The project leader of the study, and epidemiologist at WBVR, Armin Elbers, explained: “Several mallards came to visit the range between sunset and sunrise daily. They look for food and swim in puddles of water that are formed during the winter period by abundant rainfall in the range. While swimming in the puddles, the ducks may defecate. During the day, the chickens drink the same water, as we saw in the video camera images. In the cold winter period, the bird flu virus can survive in such water for a long time.”

Wageningen University & Research did a study with the laser bird deterrent manufactured by Bird Control Group. This study explored whether the laser system could be a successful biosecurity measure to prevent avian influenza viruses from spreading from wild birds to domestic animals. The laser bird deterrent system has been used worldwide in a variety of applications to reduce bird presence. The system spooks birds away by projecting a green laser beam across areas where birds aggregate. The birds see the green laser beam as a solid object and instinctively perceive it as a physical threat, causing them to flee the area immediately.

The WBVR study took place in the winter of 2019-2020. The laser bird deterrent system was deployed on a six-meter-high pole in the farm’s free-range area of 1.5 hectares. In that area, eight wide-angle video cameras were installed to record visits of wild birds. The laser bird deterrent was active in the free-range area between 5 pm, and 10 am when the laying hens were in the barn. Between 10 am and 5 pm, the laying hens were in the free-range area, and the laser was used to protect the grass pastures surrounding the farm. The study was carried out over two months: one month without the laser, followed by one month with the laser.

Elbers earlier discussed the study during the International Egg Commission webinar, “AI Prevention and Innovative Biosecurity Measures — How the Dutch Egg Industry is Tackling AI,” held in October 2020. He said at the time the results would be released soon.

Study results

The results of the study indicated that virtually no wild ducks visited the free-range area (99.7% prevention rate) when the laser was in use. There was also a reduction of visits from other wild birds in the free-range area during sunrise, and 10 a.m. (about 96% prevention). The research interpreted, “The overall (all bird species) efficacy of the laser for reducing the rate of wild birds visiting the free-range study area was 98.2 %.”

When the laser was not in use in the free-range area, a significant number of geese would visit the surrounding grass pastures during the day.

Elbers concluded: “In this study, we confirm the high efficacy of using lasers to reduce the daily number of wild bird visits to the free-range area of a layer farm situated in an AIV-hotspot area. Given this high efficacy, the application of these lasers becomes a viable alternative for the prevention of introduction of avian influenza infections in poultry.”

Industry knowledge and future perspective

“For free-range poultry farms located in high-risk avian flu virus areas, which had repeated introductions of avian flu virus in the past, we believe that a laser could be helpful as a preventive measure to keep wild birds away from the farm during the high-risk period (October to March). Poultry farms with strictly indoor accommodations have also been infected with avian influenza virus in the past due to their location near wetlands. Using a laser during the high-risk period could offer a solution to this problem too by keeping wild waterfowl away from the vicinity of the barn,” Elbers stated.

The laser bird repellent has already been deployed at a poultry farm, Orchard Eggs, in the U.K.

Daniel Hoberichts, the owner of Orchard Eggs, understood the biosecurity measures that had to be taken to protect his poultry. He uses the laser bird repellent to prevent the chickens and staff from being exposed to the avian influenza virus.

Hoberichts explained: “Our birds are housed across 50 acres of orchard and we want to do everything to keep them safe from infection. Once we heard about the AVIX Autonomic it seemed like an ideal solution to complement all of our other biosecurity measures.” The laser bird repellent helped reduce bird presence by more than 90%.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard

 

Pigeon Trapping Tips

Pigeon Trapping Tips

First, you need to buy a pigeon trap. There are many models on the market, but most are basically large cages, with one-way entry doors.

Next, you need to set the trap in the area with the problem pigeons. You might want to wire the doors of the trap open for a few days, and set bait – cracked corn works great – in the center of the trap, and get the pigeons acclimated to feeding in the trap. Once they are used to entering the trap for the bait, you can set the trap for real. Pro Tip: Once a first pigeon enters, more will follow.

What do you do with the pigeons once you’ve trapped them? Well, you may have heard that pigeons are moderately competent at finding their way back home. Like, over oceans and stuff. They can see magnetic fields or something. So you can’t relocate them. That means you have to kill them, if you want to stop them from coming back.

Overall, it’s my opinion that pigeon exclusion methods, using spikes, electric track, or preventative netting, are the best ways to keep pigeons away for good. Far better than trapping.

Some people love to keep pigeons because they are smart, beautiful and in some cases even profitable. People will keep pigeons in pigeon coops and pigeon farms. You may not know it, but there are pigeon race competitions where people will release a pigeon away from their home and count the time it takes for the pigeon to return. Restaurants are serving pigeon as a delicacy and farms that raise pigeons are now making more and more money.

When these birds aren’t raised for pets they can become quite the nuisance, leaving droppings everywhere and causing damage to buildings. In this case they are no longer the source to relieve some stress; these pigeons are, in fact the cause of your stress. Because of this you may be looking for tips on how to trap them and if you are, you have come to the right place.

Live Traps
If you have a new pigeon problem, meaning that it started a month or two ago then you can use live traps as a way to trap the pigeons. These birds are very smart and that is why they have been trained and used by humans in many different situations from war time to the pigeon races. Because of this level of intelligence you must know what you are doing with a pigeon cage. The right bait is absolutely necessary and you can check when you purchase the cage what the best bait is. You also have to make sure that you conceal the cage to make sure that the bird does not mind going inside. Some of the best bait includes seeds that you may have purchased at your local supermarket. There is no need to get fancy when trapping pigeons.

Get Them Used to You
You will never trap the pigeons if they have no reason to come to you or into your trap. Fortunately that can be done by using corn every day. All that you have to do is get some corn and spread in the area where pigeons usually gather. When pigeons get used to the idea of getting food without actually having to hunt it or scavenge it they will keep coming back for more. Once you have them in the location every day, you want to put some of that same corn inside the cage. Now keep in mind that pigeons are fast, so you should get a trap that’s specifically designed for them. Getting another one could actually hurt the bird. These traps can be purchased at home and gardening stores everywhere and they are not harmful to the pigeons. It’s important to remove animals humanely in every situation possible.

They Will Keep Coming Back
Unless the pigeons have just found your place there is a very good chance that they will keep coming back. As mentioned before, some people make a living with pigeon races, which consists of releasing the bird and letting it find its roost. This means in addition to trapping and releasing the birds you will also need to consider what you will do to prevent them from making a roost out of your home a second time. There are many different deterrent options for pigeons. There are fences, netting and stakes that are safe and meant to keep the birds from being able to comfortably land. You will want to have a plan that uses a combination of trapping and deterrents to keep your home pigeon free.


Pigeon Trapping: How to Trap a Pigeon – Homeowners go looking for pigeon traps mostly after their pigeon problem refuses to go away with repellent interventions. Those birds just don’t know when they have overstayed their welcome and they beat the repellents every time because they’re so intelligent. For trapping, you may choose to go with either lethal or live traps.

Lethal traps

Lethal traps kills the pigeon as soon as it enters into the cage by means of a snapping or constricting mechanism. Lethal traps get rid of any pigeon captured permanently, but the intelligence of the bird is their shortcoming. When one pigeons is caught and killed, the other members of the flock will alert each other to the danger posed by the trap and none will go near it again.

The other issue with lethal trapping is that it is illegal in many areas because of its inhumane manner of getting rid of pigeons. It can also be very difficult for homeowners who are not animal control professionals, to set and use lethal traps without injuring themselves.

Live pigeon traps

The most common design of the live pigeon trap is the one-door trap. As the name suggests, it has only one door through which the pigeons enter and it is built to accommodate many birds at once. When setting this trap, know that once one pigeon enters, the others will follow. The Tomahawk Extra live pigeon trap for instance, can trap up to thirty pigeons at a time. There are also other examples like the collapsible pigeon traps. Follow the following steps to trap pigeon alive:

  1. Start out by getting some seed bait and spreading it out for the birds in a particular location. Repeat this over a couple of days so this eating pattern can be established for them.
  2. The pigeons will start returning to this spot everyday once the feeding is regular. Once this is established, get your cage ready.
  3. Introduce the cage trap to the location and put the seed inside it. Let them feast for another few days to gain their trust in the cage
  4. Set the trap to catch as many of them as possible.

 

As humane as live trapping seems, it is not always the best way to get rid of pigeons because after trapping and transporting them away from your abode, they are able to return to where they were captured on their own. For this reason, some people prefer to kill the birds after they’ve been trapped.

What to do after live trapping pigeons

The thing about trapping pigeons is that unlike other animals, live trapping and relocation rarely work to keep them away from your home. Pigeons are known for their amazing ability to navigate their way back home (where they roost) from anywhere they are taken to. It is this ability that made them so useful for sending communication in the olden days, and even during world wars I and II. It therefore holds that they will return to their roost spot in your house if you do trap and relocate them. It then seems that the only way to get rid of them after trapping, is to kill them; or modify your building structure to deter them from their roosting spot.

You have to decide what to do with your pigeons once you trap them – kill them or set them free. Whatever you choose, do it quickly so the pigeons do not suffer for long. If it is permitted for you to kill them where you live, do so quickly and humanely – by gassing or breaking their necks with pliers.

Bait

Traps need to be baited to attract the pigeons. Foods like grains, seeds, fruits and water, which are the birds’ favourites work best in luring them. For your trap to be effective, you should put this bait out for a period of time before actually putting it in a trap, so that the birds feel safe enough to enter your cage in large numbers.

You can use a pigeon as bait for other pigeons as well. They are social birds and are likely to perch and eat where a member of their species is, so keep a pigeon inside the cage and it will lure others in.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard

Controlling Pigeons When the City Won’t

Controlling Pigeons When the City Won’t

Feral pigeons are the number one nuisance bird in urban areas, yet many municipalities are washing their hands of the dirty birds.

fat pigeon

In 2013, the City of Trail, British Columbia (in the Kootenay Region of the Province’s interior) made national headlines when they scrapped a plan to relocate thousands of pigeons that plague the area to a pigeon sanctuary, only to find out that no such place exists. In the end, the city simply enacted legislation making it illegal to feed the birds and waited for them to go away.

While this sort of solution might seem appropriate to a cash strapped city council, it leaves local residents stuck with a bird problem. If you’ve got pigeons, you know how messy they can be. Their droppings cover everything underneath their resting place, and the uric acid it contains will ruin just about anything in its path. The feces can also transmit fungal, viral, and bacterial disease. They will nest in rooftop vents and air-conditioning units, causing further property damage. The long and short of the matter is that pigeons are poor roommates.

Pigeons are a year-round issue around and on homes. Roof lines provide birds with a vantage point overlooking the area surrounding your home, and most likely a regular source of food such as the neighbor’s garden. There are many other areas of the pigeons to roost such as external pipework, windowsills or worse – the chimney.

A statistic that may be the push for addressing this problem: Birds can harbor over 40 types of parasites and host internally 60 types of infectious diseases. These can be transmitted through the bird droppings found around your home.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard

Why you should get rid of Pigeons

Why you should get rid of Pigeons

Pigeons may seem harmless, but these pest birds cause millions of dollars in damage every year to buildings, ventilation systems, machinery, statues, roofs, and much more.  Bird droppings and nesting materials left by pigeons pose physical problems and health hazards that can become very serious if not corrected quickly making prompt and effective professional bird control is often essential.

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Potential Health Hazards:

There are many health risks associated with pigeons and their droppings.  The bacteria, fungi, and ectoparasites that they and their droppings harbor are numerous.  The four most common ways disease is passed by bird to human are: inhalation of fecal dust, food and water contaminated with bird feces, direct contact with feces, and parasitic transfer.

Pigeon droppings can expose humans to many diseases, including salmonella, Newcastle disease, candidiasis, encephalitis, orthosis, and toxoplasmosis.  In addition, they can also carry cryptococcosis, and coccidiodomycosis, which cause meningitis.  The droppings may also harbor growth of fungus, which causes histoplasmosis.  Fleas, lice, mites, and other pests often live on these birds, hitching a ride to where ever they want to jump off. Pigeons may also attract other pests, such as rats, which feed on dead pigeons and food that well-intentioned bird lovers may scatter for them.

In addition to disease, bird droppings are known for triggering people to slip and fall, which makes it especially important to rid the birds from highly trafficked areas.

Damage Caused by Pigeons:

These are messy birds, leaving droppings everywhere they go, particularly near their roost sites.  Pigeon droppings are not just gross, they are also full of uric acid which makes them extremely corrosive.  The droppings are the direct cause of millions of dollars in damage to buildings and other structures.  Particularly vulnerable are painted surfaces, awnings, signs, and other similar surfaces.  A tragic example of the corrosiveness of pigeon droppings is the Minnesota bridge accident in 2007, which was found to be the direct result of bird droppings eating away at the metal bridge supports until they weakened.

In addition to the damage cause by their acidic droppings, pigeon nests can also cause damage.  Pest birds will often build nests in gutters or on roof corners blocking essential drainage systems.  Every year several warehouses experience roof damage, and even collapse, when drainage systems have been blocked and standing water rises just six inches.  Bird nests can also block ventilation systems, which not only prevents exhaust of potentially harmful gases, but also has the potential to spread diseases.  Fire is also a potential hazard.  Nesting materials are usually flammable, consisting of twigs, straw, grasses and dried droppings.  When pest birds build their nests inside electric signs or other machinery there is a great risk of fire.

Pigeons are creatures of habit and highly social.  Once they have found a cozy spot the will return again and again, bringing along more of their pigeon pals. Prolific breeders, pigeons can hatch several broods a year, sometimes even laying a new clutch before the previous have even hatched.   Often our buildings and structures have architectural features such as drain spouts and eaves that make perfect nesting spots for these birds. Pigeons are comfortable around humans and they’re hard to scare away or deter.  Once a flock of stubborn unwanted pigeons have set up shop in/on your building, it can be stubbornly resistant to removal, often requiring the services of a pest control or animal control professional. As is true of many pests that invade our homes and businesses, the first step to controlling feral pigeons is to remove their food source.

Tips to deter pigeons:

  1.      Don’t feed the pigeons.
  2.      Screen drains and gutters to make your property less attractive to pigeons.
  3.      Encourage children to pick up spilled food – and teach them NOT to feed pigeons
  4.      Keep areas around trash bins and outdoor dining areas clean
  5.      Eliminate water sources such as bird baths, over-watered lawns, or kiddy pools.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard

A component of pigeon dropping extract that reacts specifically with sera of individuals with pigeon breeder’s disease

A component of pigeon dropping extract that reacts specifically with sera of individuals with pigeon breeder’s disease

A component of pigeon droppings has been demonstrated to react with sera of individuals with pigeon breeder’s disease, a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, by crossed isoelectric focusing. Similarly, exposed but asymptomatic pigeon breeders do not exhibit antibody to this component, even though they possess significant levels of antibody to other components of pigeon droppings. Purification of this disease-specific component of pigeon dropping was attempted by preparative isoelectric focusing, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography on an immunoadsorbent prepared with asymptomatic antibody. After repeated passage over the affinity column, complete purification could not be achieved. A rabbit antiserum made against the partially purified component revealed the presence of at least one other component that did not react with either symptomatic or asymptomatic sera. Despite these contaminants, the disease-specific component was characterized as a single polypeptide having a molecular weight of approximately 50,000 daltons and having an isoelectric point between 3.5 and 5.1.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


Pigeon/Pigeon Patrol / Pigeons Roosing / Vancouver Pigeon Control / Bird Spikes / Bird Control / Bird Deterrent / PIgeon Deterrent / Surrey Pigeon Control / Pest / Seagull deterrent / Vancouver Pigeon Blog / Birds Inside Home / Pigeons in the cities / Ice Pigeons / What to do about pigeons / sparrows, Damage by Sparrows, How to Keep Raccoons Away, Why Are Raccoons Considered Pests / De-fence / Pigeon Nesting / Bird Droppings / Pigeon Dropping / woodpecker control / Professional Bird Control Company / Keep The Birds Away / Birds/rats/seagull/pigeon/woodpecker/dove/sparrow/pidgeon control/pidgeon problem/pidgeon control/flying rats/pigeon problems/ bird netting/bird gel/bird spray/bird nails/bird guard

HOW TO CLEAN PIGEON POOP

HOW TO CLEAN PIGEON POOP

According to a popular theory, pigeons don’t poop while in flight and can be quite selective when it comes to going number 2.

That’s why we see clusters of pigeon poop on the window sills, decks, statues or wherever those fussy little poopers are hanging out.

pigeon

Some experts believe that pigeons don’t poop while in flight because of the way they tuck their feet against their body while flying.  The tuck would mean that if they did poop while in flight, it would go all over their feet, so they don’t.

In my opinion, that’s great news!  The fewer poop bombs falling from above, the better!  If you’ve ever been the “lucky” target of a bird poop bomb you know what I mean!

The only downside is, we’re left to clean up the mess.

So how do we properly clean the pigeon poop?

The short answer, very carefully!

Ingested pigeon poop can lead to several diseases in humans, such as; Salmonella (bacterial infection), Psittacosis (flu like illness), Diarrhea, Histoplasmosis (respiratory disease), to name a few.

Pigeon poop carries pathogens that are harmful to humans when ingested.  Touching pigeon poop (when cleaning it or accidentally like on a bench etc)  and then using your phone or scratching your face or rubbing your eye are all easy ways to accidentally ingest.  Breathing in the dry poop particles floating in the air is another way to ingest.

Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning up pigeon poop is a must!

The 3 pieces of PPE we recommend for cleaning pigeon poop are gloves, glasses and a mask.  Especially if you’re removing a large amount, and especially if the poop is dry.  It’s very easy to breathe in the particles and they are toxic!

Once you’ve dawned your PPE, it’s time to start cleaning!

*friendly reminder – These are helpful suggestions to remove pigeon poop around the house, on window sills, handrails, tables, the deck, etc.  For larger or heavily soiled areas you may need bigger tools like brooms, hoses or even pressure washers.  You may even need more PPE like a bodysuit and respirator.  Be cautious and contact a professional cleaning or maintenance company if you’re unsure.

Solutions:

When it comes to the solution, choose wisely. Your choice for the perfect solution should include the following considerations:

What surface is the poop on and what products may damage the surface? 

Pigeon poop is very acidic and will cause damage to most surfaces if left on long enough.  That being said, we don’t want to cause more damage to the surface by choosing the wrong product to remove the poop with.  Even dish soap can be damaging to some surfaces so make sure you read the instructions, ask for help and always test before using a product, especially if you’re not familiar with it.

Is there enough ventilation in the area to use this solution?

Some products like bleach are very strong and not healthy to breath in large amounts.  Make sure the area you’re cleaning is properly ventilated before starting.

Am I using the right PPE for the solution?

Read the label carefully! Make sure you’re using the proper PPE for the Product!

Over the counter Disinfectants and household cleaners can be useful.  Some are better than others.  If you have one you stand behind, by all means use it. We always recommend testing unfamiliar products before using them.

3 House Hold Solutions to Clean and Disinfect Pigeon Poop 

Bleach

This is our first choice when it comes to household disinfectants.  It’s the most powerful disinfectant in this list, but it can be damaging to some surfaces.  Bleach should always be diluted with water before use. For this purpose we recommend mixing a solution of ½ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water.

Misting will help settle suspended air-born particlesSoak the area and let it sit for 15 mins to disinfect and soften the poop (reapply solution if it starts to dry during the 15 mins) , heavily soiled areas may require multiple applications. Wipe or Scrape away the poop and place into a doubled plastic bag and seal it.  Properly seal and dispose of the bag making sure it’s away from direct human contact human

Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent will help disinfect the area and may not be as damaging to the surface or surrounding area as bleach.  Some detergents have bleach in them so make sure to read the label and always test a small amount on a small unnoticeable area before starting.

For this purpose we recommend mixing a solution of about 1 tbsp of laundry detergent with 2 cups of warm water.  Make sure all the detergent is dissolved in the water before use.

Similar to bleach, misting will help settle suspended air-born particles.  Soak the area and let it sit for 15 mins to disinfect and soften the poop (reapply solution if it starts to dry during the 15 mins)  Wipe or scrape the poop away, repeat the process for heavily soiled areas. Place the poop in a double plastic bag, seal it and safely discard.

Vinegar

Bleach and laundry detergent can be harmful to some surfaces and the environment.  That’s why using vinegar can be handy, it’s the green solution.  The vinegar acts as an excellent disinfect for the area.  Similar to bleach, vinegar should always be diluted.  For this purpose we recommend  a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water.

It’s important to remember that vinegar can still be damaging especially to wood, if left on too long.  It can soak into wood very easily, causing it to stain.  Vinegar is used as a stain for wood and the results can be great, however if that’s not the intention vinegar stain can be very damaging.

Apply with a cloth or in a mist.  Wipe or scrape the poop away, repeat the process for heavily soiled areas. Place the poop in a double plastic bag, seal it and safely discard.

These solutions may not remove all the stains from pigeon poop, but it will help clean and disinfect the area.  Pigeon poop can cause permanent damage to surfaces if left on long enough especially if it’s baked in by the sun.  The best way to avoid damage is to clean it as soon as you notice it.

Source

Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor or bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird 

deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Bird Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.

Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products ten years in a row. 


Contact us at 1 877-4-NO-BIRD,(604) 585-9279 or visit our website at www.pigeonpatrol.ca


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