The feral pigeon is the most common pest bird in the UK by a wide margin. Every town centre has them. Every railway station has them. Almost every urban commercial property will, at some stage, have a pigeon problem.
The pigeon population across the UK is measured in the millions, and because pigeons can raise four to six broods a year, the numbers compound quickly once a roost gets established on your building.
For effective pigeon control in the UK, contact Pest Solutions today.
Why Pigeons are a Pest
There is a reason why feral pigeons need effective pest control.
Here are some of the reasons why bird proofing is important to remove pigeons from buildings.
Health Risks from Pigeon Droppings
Pigeons carry a range of diseases transmissible to humans, most commonly through contact with dried pigeon droppings.
These can include psittacosis (also called ornithosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci), salmonellosis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis.
The disease risk is highest in dried pigeon guano because disturbing the material releases particles that carry the organisms into the air, where they can be inhaled.
Commercial sites with staff working in roof spaces, on maintenance platforms, or in loft voids have a legal duty under health and safety legislation to assess and manage that risk.
Pigeons also act as a host for fleas, mites, ticks, and beetles that can migrate into the building from abandoned nests.
Bird mites in particular make their way through ceilings into living spaces during summer and cause bites and skin irritation for the people below.
Property Damage from Pigeon Guano
Pigeon droppings are acidic and attack stonework, metalwork, painted surfaces, and roofing membranes over time.
Sustained fouling erodes sandstone, corrodes zinc and lead, blisters paint, and stains almost every common external material.
On heritage and listed buildings, the restoration cost for guano-damaged masonry can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
Pigeons also have a strong homing instinct and will return to the same nesting site repeatedly. Without proper bird proofing measures in place, the damage to buildings will only increase year on year.
Nesting Materials
Pigeons build untidy stick nests in gutters, around rooflight kerbs, behind signage, and under the panels of solar panel arrays.
Nests block drainage and lead to water ingress and damp penetration inside the building.
Solar panel installations are particularly vulnerable because pigeons nest in the gap between the panel and the roof surface. The nest material reduces airflow, which damages the panels and blocks sunlight onto the cells.
Noise, Nuisance, and Site Reputation
Cooing, wing flapping, and the general presence of a pigeon roost create noise from first light onwards. This can disturb residents, especially people living in carehomes or hospitals.
Because pigeons produce a lot of guano, it isn’t long before foul odours to develop once the colony establishes.
Below, walkways become slip hazards from wet droppings and are unsightly to anyone approaching the property.
Retail frontages, hospitality sites, and food premises all suffer an immediate reputational hit once visible pigeon activity takes hold.
Effective Pest Control Methods to Deter Pigeons
Professional pigeon control uses a range of proofing and deterrent methods matched to the site.
The right combination depends on the roof type, the level of infestation, the target species, and whether appearance is a constraint.
Pigeon control products that make up our standard toolkit:
Bird Netting
Heavy-duty knotted polyethylene net with a 50mm mesh is the strongest exclusion method available for pigeons.
Netting seals off entire areas (loading bays, atriums, undercrofts, balcony recesses) and delivers 100% exclusion when fitted properly.
Our bird netting systems are UV-stabilised to resist degradation and failure from exposure to the elements. We also check the netting at scheduled intervals to ensure it is still working fully.
Bird Spikes
Stainless steel wires on a polycarbonate base prevent pigeons from landing on ledges, parapets, copings, and similar linear surfaces.
They are a cost-effective method for straightforward ledge protection. This makes them the default specification on most commercial jobs where pigeons are perched rather than nesting inside a cavity.
Bird Wire Systems
Bird wire systems, also known as post and wire systems, are stainless steel wires tensioned between small posts along a ledge.
The unstable feel of the spring-loaded wires deters pigeons from landing, and they move on to a different location.
These systems are much less visible from ground level than spikes or netting. This makes them particularly popular for heritage facades, listed buildings, and hotels.
However, smaller birds such as starlings and sparrows, can land between the wire systems.
For buildings with complex bird problems, featuring multiple species, our bird control experts will advise you on the best course of action for effective results.
Bird Free Gel
Small translucent gel dishes that trigger an instinctive avoidance response through UV reflection and scent.
Pigeons perceive the gel as a point of fire and refuse to land near it.
The dishes are invisible from ground level. This makes gel the right answer for ornate stonework, carved features, and small sensitive areas where nothing else fits.
Solar Panel Proofing
Pigeons are descended from rock doves which naturally nest in crevices, cliff faces, and caves.
This makes solar panels particularly appealing to pigeon populations, due to the shelter and warmth they provide.
We regularly fit stainless steel mesh clipped around the perimeter of the panels. This closes that gap and prevents pigeons from nesting underneath.
Our team will always use safe glue or clips to apply any solar panel proofing to your roof. This is so we do not affect any warranties you may have in place.
Before the proofing is fit, we will thoroughly clean old nesting materials and guano to prevent the risk of further damage and secondary infestations.
Chimney Guards
Purpose-built chimney bird guards fitted to the pot stop pigeons from nesting inside the flue.
This helps prevent the risk of health dangers, property damage, and the risk of fire for active chimneys.
Electric Deterrent Tracks
Low-voltage electric tracks deliver a mild, harmless static shock to any bird that lands on the protected surface.
Electric deterrents are discreet and work well on heritage buildings where pigeons have habituated to other deterrent methods.
UK Law and Pigeon Control
Pigeons are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, pigeons are still classed as pests due to the health concerns and structural damage their population can bring.
This means it is illegal to kill, injure, or take a pigeon, damage or destroy an active nest, or remove eggs except under the conditions of a specific licence.
By choosing Pest Solutions, you can be confident that every method we use is lawful and humane.
Our team always prioritises non-lethal methods of control first. But where a population poses a genuine risk to health and safety, we have the licences and expertise to manage numbers effectively and in full compliance with the law.
For humane methods of removal, contact our team today.
Nest and Roost Management
Once pigeons are nesting and roosting on a building, proofing alone is not always enough.
Existing nests may need to be removed (under licence where the nest is active), roosting and breeding sites decontaminated, and cleaning of pigeon guano carried out before any hardware goes on.
This is an essential part of the process.
Fitting bird spikes or netting over an active roost traps the scent and nesting materials against the surface and draws new pigeons back to the site.
Our standard process for any established pigeon infestation is to remove, clean, then proof.
Nest removal is always carried out within the conditions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for humane and legal removal.
Once the nest site is clear, high-pressure cleaning and biocidal disinfection remove the guano and the scent markers that attract returning birds.
Proofing goes up last, once the surface is properly prepared.
Domestic and Commercial Pigeon Infestation Control Services
Pest Solutions has over 24 years of trusted experience throughout the UK in bird control.
We are proud to be trusted by homeowners and commercial estates alike up and down the country with effective pest control.
Whether you live in a small bungalow or you are looking for a huge industrial complex to be protected, we have the skills and expertise to tailor our approach to your specific pigeon issue.
For commercial clients, we also provide ongoing pest control contracts to keep your property protected. This stops any new activity in its tracks and prevents pest issues from becoming major infestations.
Our professional pigeon control and pigeon prevention process
Every pigeon control job we undertake follows the same structured approach, which keeps the work legal, effective, and priced up front.
Free Survey
One of our experienced pest controllers visits the site, identifies the pigeon species, estimates the colony size, maps active nesting and roosting sites, and assesses the risk to people working or living nearby.
You get a written report with a fixed-price quote and advice on the best combination of methods.
No hard sell and no pressure to go through with the service.
Feral Pigeon Control Plan
We write up a control plan covering every stage of the work, from decontamination through proofing to any aftercare needed.
This gives you clear guidance on what has been recommended and why, the timeline for our installation processes, and follow-up visits for the service.
For commercial properties, we provide commercial contracts for regular protection and care.
Guano Cleaning and Decontamination
Existing droppings and nesting material are removed, the area is disinfected with a biocide approved for bird fouling, and the surface is prepared for proofing.
Pigeon Proofing Installation
We install the agreed combination of high-quality bird spikes, netting, wire, gel, solar panel mesh, chimney guards, or electric tracks.
All work at height is carried out by IPAF and PASMA certified pest control professionals working from scaffold, MEWP, or cherry picker as the site requires.
We will also advise you on practical behaviour changes to help discourage pigeons from returning to the area, such as removing accessible food sources and making the environment less attractive to them.
Aftercare
For commercial clients, we offer ongoing monitoring contracts so any new activity is caught early.
Get Rid of Pigeons with Pest Solutions
If pigeons are roosting on your building, nesting in the eaves, fouling walkways, or damaging a solar panel array, they are unlikely to go away on their own. For humane and long-term protection, reach out to Pest Solutions today.
Our professional pigeon control and bird control solutions have been trusted by homeowners, businesses, and public sector clients across the UK for more than 24 years.
As an award-winning company, we are committed to keeping pigeons away from your property for good, backed by high-quality proofing systems and deep industry knowledge.
For more information on our services, call our friendly team today on 0800 027 2555 or contact us online to arrange your free survey.
