Pigeon pests!

All I have to grow things in at the moment is two troughs on the balcony (listed building, can't do much else) and now I've got pigeons landing on them all the time! This is central London, BTW. I'd love to grow some leaves or herbs in the boxes, but the nuisance of pigeon poo and all their other diseases, ticks, etc. puts me right off - UNLESS anyone knows a way of discouraging them from landing in the first place?

Thanks in advance!

 

I dont know what your balcony looks like or wether it would be permitted. But could you possibly put up some netting to keep the pigeons out?.Seems such a shame to have to share your little outside space with pescky pigeons. 02

 

Not allowed, unfortunately, but thanks for the suggestion. We're very listed indeed and you can barely put yourself outside without permission! Netting is considered 'obtrusive' - i.e. visible from ground level. Someone in my office says she thinks you can get strips of spikes to put on the balcony railing, but I dunno.....does that hurt other birds? There's a protected colony of London sparrows below my window and I don't want to hurt them.

 

How about something like this? >

http://www.insight-security.com/per-prickler.htm

 

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/pestcontrol/pigeons/faqs

 

My first idea was to 'plant' lots of vertical twigs/sticks at random heights between your herbs to stop them perching. Thought I'd include it, incase all else fails, though others have better suggestions!

My neighbour has the plastic spikes on our dividing wall to discourage cats. They just seem to step over it! I would be a bit concerned about your protected sparrows, as this would stop them perching too - though maybe they don't use your balcony.

How about setting up a bird table about half a mile away from your house, so that all the pigeons are lured away?! :D

 

Thanks very much for responding, everyone! The plastic spikes must be the ones I've seen mentioned. Lyn, your link to Tameside website also helps me to have replies ready for one or two bleeding hearts who don't believe feral pigeons are pests! Half a mile from home, Jarbax, is St Paul's Cathedral, or Liverpool Street Station - not really suitable for bird tables, eh?

 

You could perhaps put fleece or netting just over the troughs, supported by wire hoops? Or even cloches?
I've made my own cloches/mini-tunnels for my veg beds, which have plastic, netting or fleece on them, to keep cats off as well as to help the crops, and will try to get some pictures to show you how I've done it if you want - or if funds allow and you can find the right size, you could buy them. If you could afford bell cloches, they'd look lovely and I'm sure they would be fine on your listed terrace, although I'm not sure how you'd get on with too much sun and lack of ventilation - perhaps others could advise.

 

polytunnels Jervis!!

 

Could you buy a plastic life sized replica of a peregrine falcon to perch on your balcony - that should put off the pigeons and not be too obtrusive for your listed laws!

 

or maybe a tape recording of one,hey cookie! (Im sure that would drive you round the twist eventually though:eek: )

 

Thanks again, everyone - I see we're descending into comedy here, but keep 'em coming! I'll let you know what happens as time goes on. I've discovered I can get the hawk man to fly his bird around the area, which has some effect. Good, eh?

 

I was being serious about the plastic peregrine ... along the lines of plastic herons with ponds!!!

:confused::(

Good luck with it anyway !

 

Shoot a few.

 

Pigeon Pie :D

Ingredients
4-5 pigeons, drawn
salt and pepper
250g/8oz stewing beef
250g/8oz shortcrust pastry
beaten egg to glaze
2 tsp cornflour
300ml/10fl oz stock



Method
1. preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Joint the birds into two breast joints and two leg joints each and stew the rest of the carcass in a little water to make stock for the gravy.
3. Cut the beef into small pieces and line a deep 20cm/8in pie dish with these.
4. Lay the pigeon joints on top, cover with water, add salt and pepper, then cover the pie dish with greased paper or aluminium foil. Place in the oven and simmer for 1½ hours.
5. Remove from the oven and raise oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
6. Cover the pie with the shortcrust pastry, brush the top with beaten egg, put back into the oven and bake until the pastry is golden brown.
7. Make a gravy by mixing 10g/2tsp cornflour with a little cold water and add to 300ml/10fl oz of the warmed stock. Allow to thicken while stirring, season and serve with the pie.