How To Keep Pigeons Away From Garden Bird Feeders

With their passion for pecking at plants and acidic droppings, pigeons don’t have the best reputation in our gardens as it is. To make matters worse, they often ransack the bird feeders, leaving no seeds for the likes of blue tits, blackbirds and bullfinches.

Pigeons breed all year round, but peak season is between March and July. This means that you might find your bird feeder increasingly crowded by the grey birds over the coming months.

What’s more, pigeons are, unfortunately, not just drawn to the seeds in your bird feeder. If you’re currently growing vegetables, you will need to exercise extra caution as these cooing birds love to peck at seedlings, flowers and leaves.

Despite all this, it’s good to keep in mind that their bad rap is largely unjustified. For example, the prevailing idea that pigeons are filthier than other birds is untrue. Yes, they do carry diseases, but no more so than any other wild bird with frequent proximity to humans.

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And of course, pigeons, like all other animals, need food. So, if you are looking for ways to keep pigeons out, it’s important to do so without harming them.

Read on for helpful tips on how to gently keep pigeons away from your bird feeder and garden…

1. Use a suitable feeder

Pigeons are considerably larger than other common garden birds, which can be used against them. By installing a protective cage, pigeons won’t be able to reach the seeds in the bird feeder, while smaller birds, like finches and tits, can simply slip through the metal bars.

Another option is to install a hanging birdfeeder, instead of using one with a tray or platform, as pigeons struggle landing on moving objects as opposed to static ones. This will also keep other scavengers like squirrels away.

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Once the feeder has been pigeon-proofed, it is advisable to keep the surrounding area clean, as seeds falling to the ground can still be reached by birds too big to fit. Alternatively, choose a feeder with an extra tray to catch falling seeds.

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3. Pick the right seeds

Believe it or not, pigeons don’t just eat anything that lands at their feed – they have food preferences, too.

‘Certain types of bird food, like safflower seeds and nyjer seeds, are less appealing to pigeons but still highly attractive to smaller birds,’ Richard Green, a wildlife expert and head of production at Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies, told Devon Live. ‘Nyjer seeds are an excellent choice if you’re looking to attract goldfinches and other small birds to your garden.’

4. Deter them

Pigeons don’t like shiny objects, and there are a few different options available to you. Hanging up old CDs or balls of tinfoil is a good (and cost-effective) DIY option, but you could also spend a few pounds on reflective rods, which look a bit more decorative.

For a high-end solution, invest in an ultrasonic bird repeller, which emits a high-pitched sound that pigeons don’t like.

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Wanda Sachs is the Daily Writer for House Beautiful and Country Living, exploring the latest in interior design, home trends, property news, wellbeing and sustainable living. With a keen eye for style and a passion for storytelling, she previously served as an Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she launched and led the magazine’s monthly style vertical, covering emerging fashion trends. Wanda holds a combined BA in English and German from Goethe University Frankfurt.