How To Get Rid Of Pigeons On The Roof
Getting pigeons off your roof requires some creativity, especially if your roof has pitches or eaves where the birds can nest.
Heres what we recommend:
Deterrents
Wondering how to get rid of pigeons without hurting them? Deterrents like wire coils, stainless steel wires, and spikes are all low-profile additions that can prevent birds from perching on the roof.
For best results, install them on any flat surface where pigeons could land, including roof drip edges, flashing, and caps.
Pros: Easy to install, effective, non-lethal, low-profile
Cons: These solutions only deter pigeons from perching on certain surfaces, but will not keep them away from your property entirely
Netting
Nylon bird netting can be effective for roofs that have pitches and eaves that are attractive for pigeons.
Hung vertically along the siding of a building, bird netting prevents birds from perching on the roof or surface of the building. For pigeon control, we recommend a 50mm gauge net.
Pros: Nylon netting blends in with a buildings siding for a virtually invisible appearance, non-lethal, effective to prevent roosting and perching
Cons: Time-consuming to hang and maintain
Place An Owl Statue Near Your Solar Panels To Scare Away Birds
Another way to scare away birds is by placing an owl statue near your solar panels.
Owls are a natural predator of pest bird species and can be effective in scaring them off from the area surrounding your solar panel installations.
One con to this is the placement of the owl may look a little strange, as the statue will need to be placed at a height that is appropriate for what size of bird you are trying to scare away.
Secure All Ingress Points
Birds are known to gain access to a solar panels by entering through entry holes, or as professionals call them, ingress points. This opening allows birds to access solar panels, and the most common places that they tend to be located include cracks and crevices around the side of the panels. Check all of these areas for potential holes that pigeons, seagulls, jackdraws and other birds may gain access to. Smaller birds dont need big holes to be able to gain access.
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Maintain A Clean Garden
Birds will be more attracted to your garden if there are things to eat or twigs and branches to use as nesting materials, so keeping your garden well maintained can help to minimise the chances of birds finding your property appealing. If there are no food sources to pick from and nothing beneficial to pigeons, theyre likely to go elsewhere to nest. Make sure that any bins are well-sealed and, if you have pets, their food is kept out of the garden.
How To Keep Birds Away From Solar Panels
6 Solar Panel Bird Deterrents That Keep Pigeons Off
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As cute and harmless as they may seem, pigeons are responsible for property damages that run into millions of dollars annually. They clog air conditioning systems, block gutter drains, and the uric acid in their droppings corrode buildings. Pigeons, especially Feral pigeons, are also known to nest in just about any nook and cranny they find.
If left unattended, these seemingly harmless pigeon nesting can cause damage to your property, especially solar panels typically installed on rooftops. So, to maximize your investments and protect your property, you should consider getting a solar panel bird deterrent kit.
Most people install solar panels to help them save money on their electricity bill. Birds represent a formidable threat to your investment as they are notorious for lurking underneath solar panels and nesting there. The real danger with allowing birds, such as pigeons, to nest under your solar panels is that their droppings can damage and corrode circuits.
Typically, your solar panels should remain relatively undisturbed on your roof. Still, bird nesting can mean that any damages would cost you money to fix. Conversely, rather than saving money on your utility bills, you end up spending more money on repairs.
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How To Keep Pest Pigeons Away From Your Solar Panels
Posted on September 20, 2016 by Kathy Fritsch in Bird Deterrents
The feral pigeon that is rattling around on your roof is often the pest bird that needs determent. There are many diseases associated with the pest pigeon including bird flu and other transmittable diseases. The major concern is the damage the pigeon creates on the rooftops, especially when there are solar panels involved. In urban and city areas, the supply of food all year long for these pest birds is why they are going to settle on your home and other structures on your property. Add new solar panels are going up at many homes and it is a comfortable habitat for their nesting, breeding and other natural habits. Pigeons lay eggs up to six times per year. This means the pigeons are capable of multiplying rather quickly if left to do so. The area under the solar panels can be a protected area for the pest birds. There should be bird control implemented at the time of the solar panels installation.
It is best to install pigeon spikes before their droppings are allowed to accumulate. If they droppings pile up it can be quite costly to clean up and repair what the caustic droppings have damaged. The feces deteriorate buildings. They damage paint, cement, wood and even metals.
How To Stop Pigeons From Getting Under Solar Panels
Do you have pigeons or other small animals making their homes under your solar panels? Its a problem we see all too often, but luckily it has an easy solution. The most effective way to stop pigeons from getting under solar panels is with solar panel critter guards. And not to worry, just as solar panels do not harm birds, as these guards will not either, but they are very effective at preventing birds from nesting under solar panels.
So What Are Solar Panel Critter Guards?
Usually made of galvanized steel that is PVC coated, these mesh looking guards help keep small animals, birds and large pests from nesting under your solar panels. Here is an example of a home with critter guards and one without:
As you can see, the home without these guards has a large gap under the panels, leaving plenty of room for pigeons, squirrels, and debris to collect under them.
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What Effect Will Fitting Bird Deterrents Have On The Solar Panels
The effect of fitting the bird deterrents on your solar panels is impressive. A few of them are,
- The increased output, which might otherwise have been hindered with the debris and feces
- Reduced DC cabling issues
- No more broken panels are caused when the birds drop foreign objects on the solar panels.
- Reduction in annual gutter cleaning bill.
How Do Pest Control Experts Get Rid Of Pigeons
If your DIY methods havent been effective to get rid of pigeons, or you simply want a stronger approach, its time to contact a bird control expert.
We know pigeon control can be a complex job, so we follow a proven system to get these birds off your property.
Heres what you can expect when you work with us:
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What Should I Consider Before Purchasing An Ultrasonic Bird Repeller
There are several bird deterrents on the market, so choosing one can become difficult. The goal is to scare off birds and not harm or kill them. Therefore, the ultrasonic bird repellent is considered humane.
This is why electronic deterrents are regarded as more effective bird deterrents. But if you’re willing to learn the ropes which is an “oh-so-easy thing” to learn anyway, you’ll never go wrong getting the best bird repellent of choice.
Here are some tips that would help you make an informed decision before purchasing a repeller:
Does Rice Kill Pigeons
Many people believe that feeding rice to pigeons will kill them. According to popular myth, uncooked rice expands inside a birds stomach, killing them rapidly.
Heres the truth, though:
Rice does not harm pigeons.
In fact, pigeons consume grain just like any other pest and will see rice as a potential food source. With this in mind, we strongly advise avoiding rice or poison as a DIY pigeon control method.
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Seal Off All The Entrances
Pigeons like to nest in corners where they can get protection from the sun, the cold, and predators. Take a walk around your home to pinpoint places that pigeons would love. Preventing access to these areas is a helpful way of getting rid of pigeons.
There are a lot of ways to do this using items found in the home improvement section and hardware stores. You can use silicone caulk to fill in small openings.
Use hardware cloth if you want to cover a bigger area. Bird or pigeon nets can be hung around the space above rafters to prevent them from making their home there.
Birds love attics, so its good to pay special attention to that part. Prune the tree branches that graze your walls, as this can encourage roosting and nesting near your home.
If youve had pigeon nests in your home before, itll be much easier to know where to focus. Clean out the old nests and waste, and seal off that area with pigeons netting.
This is best done in conjunction with other pigeon control methods. Making your home untenable for these birds is the first step to getting rid of them.
Bird Barrier Bird Slide
Bird slides have proven to be effective and simple barriers that deter birds from nesting or sneaking under your solar panels. The bird barrier slide is a miniature version of a typical playground slide with a slopped and slippery surface.
The concept of the bird barrier slide is simple. The barrier makes it uncomfortable for birds to perch and linger around your roof. The economical and easy to install slide features a strong vinyl surface that can survive the weather elements and bird droppings.
Sloped at a 45-degree angle, the surface makes landing and perching nearly impossible and uncomfortable for birds. The slides can also serve as a roofing design since they can be painted in various colours and even feature physical designs.
A typical Bird Barrier for solar panels is made of an equally strong UV polycarbonate that can be attached to your roof with a special adhesive. Spanning around five feet, the barrier can be cut into smaller sizes to fit around your solar panels or installed whole.
Bird slides dont harm or kill the birds and mainly only acts as a deterrent. Theyre also relatively maintenance-free and can last for a long time.
Pros:
Cons:
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Why Do Pigeons Nesting Under Solar Panels Pose A Problem
Here are some of the common problems humans face when pigeons start nesting under their solar panels:
- Pigeons are known carries of disease and lice along with their droppings which contain more than 60 pathogens and diseases such as E.Coli and Salmonella all of which pose serious health risks to us humans. Once their droppings become dry they become dust like and airborne meaning we as humans are breathing these pathogens into our airways which can make us dangerously sick.
- Pigeons are very noisy, especially their young ones. People living and sleeping in rooms directly under the roof find the sounds of pigeons day and night very irritating and non forgiving.
- Pigeons defecate in and around their nests which causes staining and damage to the roof itself.
- The overall build-up of their faeces can damage expensive solar panels because bird faeces are very corrosive. They can also build up on the solar panels and compromise their efficiency.
- Nesting materials and bird faeces accumulating under the Solar Panels blocks the overall free flow of water to be able to run down into your gutters. Gutters also become blocked and damaged causing in house water leaks.
- Birds, Bird faeces and their nests also attract other pests such as cockroaches and rodents.
Clean Pigeons Remains First
The first thing before covering the panels you have to do is to clean the area under them. Pigeons have made nests there and their pooping would also present there. You have to remove the nest first. If there are babies then wait for them to fly away or call the bird control authorities.
Now clean the area. You can use the garden hose. Keep the pressure low. It can damage your solar panels. If you dont want to use water, you can use vinegar and dish soap to clean it with the brush. You can use a bird poop cleaner. Remember to wear gloves as there may be chances of getting diseases.
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Contact A Solar Panel Pigeon Control Company
We strongly recommend choosing a professional pest control company to carry out the work.
Why choose a pest control company?
Well, bird exclusion and bird proofing is not something a builder, roofer or solar panel company would know. A pest control company, like ourselves, also have access to much high quality of materials. Weve seen some companies use cheap garden centre mesh which will fair and rust very quickly.
The main reason why you should choose a pest control company to carry out the work is that companies such as ourselves hold a licence from Natural England to remove birds lawfully.
Why Should You Keep Pigeons Away From Your Solar Panels
As mentioned, pigeons can cause some serious damage to your solar panels.
For starters, pigeon droppings are corrosive and, as such, they can contribute to rusting your solar panels faster than usual. Thus, it should be obvious why keeping them away from your solar panel would be in both your and your solar panels best interest.
Furthermore, this avian presence under and around your solar panel could lead to increased dirt and rubble collecting on the panels surface.
This could be a problem in the sense that any obstructions on your solar panels surface could lead to it producing less energy than it usually does. Knowing this, you would have to clean your panel more regularly whilst the normal cleaning process is already a hassle in itself.
Finally, the bits of environmental debris and sticks that pigeons bring with them to build their nests serve not only as a safety hazard but also as a fire hazard. Whilst these twigs themselves could scratch and damage your panel surface, they also have the potential to catch alight in the event that any exposed electric wires are protruding under your panel.
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Why Should I Have Them Removed
Once pigeons and possums call your solar panels home they will begin to make mess, either via droppings or nesting materials. Pigeon droppings are corrosive, and will increase the risk of electrolysis between the metals in the installation. Possums love to chew wires, leading to a safety hazard on your roof as well as unwanted repair bills. Nests breed insects and mites that can easily make their way down into your roof space, and loose nesting material can end up blocking gutters.
American Dj Mega Flash Dmx 800 Watt Compact Strobe Light
If you want to know how to scare birds away and if you are looking for something unique as a solution to deter birds from your area, then you need to use the DMX 800W strobe light by American DJ.
Its extremely compact in construction and wont take much space.
With the dimming control, you can brighten the light up as much as you want to deter birds and their audio output as well, so the birds will get the visual and the audio deterrence from this device.
You can also adjust the strobing rate on the 21 lights that are there on this deterrent.
These lights also come with high-quality cables that are very effective in signal transfer.
No matter how extreme the weather is in your area, these lights will continue to perform as they should.
Strobo lights are extremely effective against all kinds of birds as well as animals.
- Highly effective against all birds and animal species
- Powerful cables for outdoor use
- Super simple to adjust
What we didnt like
- Most effective during night time
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Politely Ask Your Neighbour To Consider Bird Proofing Their Solar Panels
Solar panel bird proofing is far and away the best method to consider for removing nuisance pigeons from underneath solar panels.
At Malum Southern Pest and Bird Control, we will consult with you first and your neighbour if they are willing on the best way to pigeon-proof their solar panels. This way we can agree on access and arrange any specialist equipment in advance.
Once onsite, we will remove any pigeons in the area and clean the area so that it is free from debris and potential parasites.
Please be sure to mention that we will not need to lift or remove any of your neighbours solar panels in order to do this.
We will then treat the area for any secondary pest infestations and make sure that any leftover excrement does not corrode or damage the structure of their home.
As a final procedure, we will install some made-to-measure steel mesh that effortlessly clips over the main structure of your neighbours solar panels and roof tiles.
This will prevent any pest pigeons from fluttering underneath and setting up a home.
Solar panels get the job done, and this will provide relief to your neighbours panels and home which will translate to your home as well.
