Arrh!! ..bombarded by pigeons and seagulls HELP! (1 Viewer)

[deborah4]

OK I know I need to calm down but Ive just watched 3 or 4 Herring Gulls wolf down £6.99 worth of fat balls in 30 seconds, a flock of pigeons peck their way through half a packed of grated cheese at £1.99 a pack, half a bag of mixed seed at £2.99 a pack!! :eat: :eat: :eat:



Its not really the money, but Ive spent months building up a good diversity of small garden birds (especially the ground feeders, such as song thrush, chaffinch and wagtails, including greys) with regular and mixed feeding and have had several new species recently. - I had just about got on top of the cat problem and now Seagulls and pigeons - all the birds, including off-ground feeders, have flown away terrified and there are 3 gulls stalking the garden, a wood pigeon having a fight with a collar dove and a ferral pigeon chasing another ferral pigeon round the garden in circles :C

Oh well ..the pied wagtail is the bravest of them all I have to say and has just sneaked back for a quick peck of cheese (what's left of it :-C )

What do I do to deter seagulls and pigeons but attract other groundfeeders (not rats either!) - unfortunately me screaming out the window has chased everything off, including the neighbours. :eek!:

1. Ive broken what's left into really small crumbs
2. I raised the fat balls off the ground a feet or so - but seagulls got those too after several attempts

Yours in dire distress :C

(oh no .. the squirrels arrived now .. I give up I really do :gn: )

 

[Henry B]

Can you stick canes or hang anything that would impede them from landing,.

 

[markgrubb]

Pigeons were a major problem for us until we bought the RSPB no mess food- we get 24 litre sacks delivered(a lot cheaper in bulk) it contains less of the cornflake material and we get no feral pigeons now.

Try hanging the fatballs within shrubs/bushes etc where only small birds are likely to find access easier. Oh and buying big blocks of cheese and grating it yourself is bound to be cheaper. Good luck!!

 

[turkish van]

How about a ground cage feeder - lets the little birds in, keeps the bigguns out. Woodpigeons and especially magpies used to eat all the food we put on the ground, now we barely see them. rspb sell them - have a look on the website.

 

[Richard W]

had a similar problem with Jackdaws & Pigeons, esp with Fat, all but one of my feeders are now the Squirrel proof type which means the large birds cant get to them, once I did that within a few weeks they had stopped visiting and had no problems since, although the squirrels still try :C

might be expensive replacing feeders (I did find some cheaper ones in our local indoor market) but is the only way I've found to keep them away. Had to stop putting seed mix down for the same reason so Just bought an RSPB ground feeder (small mesh) which is going to cover a new table.

 

[deborah4]

Hi thanks for all your replies.

I will think about getting a ground cage feeder, However, I am very very wary about impeding getaways for birds as I still have cat problems and can just see the neighbours cat not only circling the cage but probably sitting on top of it too! - I have been very carefull to place all ground food strategically to both maximise fast take offs and minimise surprise attacks - ie. all closest to the wall that has no direct access for cats the otherside, in full view of the window and facing large expanse of patio to enable long distance warning for the birds. (never lost a bird yet & have on average 3-4 cats in surrounding houses - touch wood)

I don't want to deter pigeons completely as (sorry if this sounds horrible) they act as good 'stool pigeons' for cats as they are slower and bigger. This has the effect of attracting other groundfeeders as they obviously feel safer in numbers - so control rather than a ban for me would be better. I have one pigeon which I rescued 18 mnths ago who will fight off other pigeons if there is not enough food. So maybe LESS ground food rather than NONE at all and Mr Gammyleg will keep all other contestors away.

What I need is a TABLE!!! Then everyone else can take their chances on what is dropped. Any other sites apart from RSPB - theirs seemed too small and too expensive?

Mark - do not fear! I don't intend to buy grated cheese for the birds in future, I put cheese out today for the first time because someone on BF suggested the wagtails would like it (I only had grated in fridge) - which they did, as did the starlings etc etc. - now I know cheese is liked, I shall be grating Happy Shopper mild cheddar!!!

Thank goodness Spring is nearly here - Isn't Winter complicated!

Cheers all B

 

[hayfieldgolfer]

Deborah

Put bird table in the search engine, then lots of retailers will pop up. There is plenty of choice in terms of size and cost.

 

[Starzz]

Hi from across the big ocean!

I have problems with pigeons too! My uncle, a few houses away, started feeding the pigeons a few years ago and when he doesnt feed them, they come here!! :C At first there was only 10 or so pigeons, but now there is over 50 of them!! I have a tray feeder with a cage on it so only the small birds can feed, but the pigeons are always on the ground getting whats thrown or blown off it tho!!

 

[deborah4]

:hi: Hi Starzz

What we need here is a Pied Piper Pigeon with good homing instincts - so he can get all the minger pigeons to follow him home - wherever that might be -Maybe your Dad could train one and send him over.

Ive followed hayfieldgolfer's advice and found a good website for bird tables - Ive just purchased several hanging tables, a ground feeder and apple house!

(Thanks everyone, I await delivery with baited breath!)

 

[christineredgate]

Deborah,if you hang the fat balls in holders,large holders take 2 large fat balls,and the small ones take 3 small fat balls,then put a piece of thin wire mesh over the top,the larger birds then cannot remove them.the Jackdaws are a dab hand at running off with the fat balls.Try scaring off the larger birds with a childs cap gun,it does work(but warn your neighbours you will be prancing around the garden firing a gun!!!).The Starlings and Blackbirds do not go away when the gun is fired,but the pigeons take off like "Bats out of Hell!!".

 

[deborah4]

Try scaring off the larger birds with a childs cap gun,it does work(but warn your neighbours you will be prancing around the garden firing a gun!!!)...the pigeons take off like "Bats out of Hell!!".

LOL! Now I really get the picture :'D - half the time I'm staring from the bedroom window wearing only a dressing gown & pair of binoculars, then I'm chasing cats out of the garden (still in my dressing gown) with a saucepan of water hissing and growling, and then to top it all firing toy guns at the pigeons!! :'D :'D Do they have Rest Homes for people like me?

Three questions:
1. Do Woolworth's sell the cap guns (presuming I'm brave enough to try it) - please bear in mind I live in a terraced road with multi-occupancy buildings so would be in full view of potentially 150 odd people - (well not as odd as me)
2. Will it work on the neighbours' cats too?
3. Do I need a licence (just kidding!)

Will do as you say re: the fat (shame the thrush and wagtails won't reach it though)
and YEAH going down town to buy me a cap gun!

 

[Cathy H]

Hi Deborah,

You sound like you're getting to the end of your tether, never mind love, it comes to us all eventually!!!

We put stuff out only for it to be scoffed immediately by gulls, but thanksfully it was only the once, although they are very local, it seems that they were flying over just as I put the food out and dropped in.

Pigeons are a different thing. I use a ground feeding cage and I also have a peanut cake guardian which is a cage around one of those church candle sized fat cakes.

After I bought the ground cage I realised there are 2 sizes of mesh, one that lets in squirrels, blackbirds, jays and the like but keeps out pigeons (they just stretch their necks through the mesh) and the smaller version which excludes all the above, it just depends on your choice. The other thing I've done is to scatter corn meal for feeding poultry outside the cage so the pigeons can eat that, whilst the more specific food goes inside for the other birds and so far it seems to be working. The poultry food costs about £5-6 for 25kgs, so it's much cheaper.

It even feeds our other regular visitor - a pheasant.

Hope that helps.

Oops, I forgot to mention that the birds have no problem in diving for cover if they feel threatened and we have had visits from sparrowhawks recently, even though they may well be protected whilst inside the cage.

Cheers :t:

 

[deborah4]

Hi Deborah,

You sound like you're getting to the end of your tether, never mind love, it comes to us all eventually!!!

We put stuff out only for it to be scoffed immediately by gulls, but thanksfully it was only the once, although they are very local, it seems that they were flying over just as I put the food out and dropped in.

Pigeons are a different thing. I use a ground feeding cage and I also have a peanut cake guardian which is a cage around one of those church candle sized fat cakes.

After I bought the ground cage I realised there are 2 sizes of mesh, one that lets in squirrels, blackbirds, jays and the like but keeps out pigeons (they just stretch their necks through the mesh) and the smaller version which excludes all the above, it just depends on your choice. The other thing I've done is to scatter corn meal for feeding poultry outside the cage so the pigeons can eat that, whilst the more specific food goes inside for the other birds and so far it seems to be working. The poultry food costs about £5-6 for 25kgs, so it's much cheaper.

It even feeds our other regular visitor - a pheasant.

Hope that helps.

Oops, I forgot to mention that the birds have no problem in diving for cover if they feel threatened and we have had visits from sparrowhawks recently, even though they may well be protected whilst inside the cage.

Cheers :t:

:t: Thanks for that Cathy

When the new feeders arrive, I'll look at some mesh covers for the ground feeders (to put the fat mix in) - and keep throwing handfulls of the cheaper mix seed around for the gatecrashers.

I'm gonna hang the apple house on the apple tree using the fruit from the tree - hopefully this will encourage them to eat from the tree eventually.
I noticed this morning the seagulls don't like the apple Ive put out! Also noticed that the fox came last night (I saw it!) and finished off the rest of the fat mix!!

B

 

[Mary Evelyn]

Poor Deborah,

Fortunately we don't have a problem here, as our garden is too dense in cover for the Seagulls to land and there are no Feral Pigeons.We do get many Collared Doves though and I gave them their own huge table which thankfully leaves the smaller tables and feeders free.Good luck Deborah.

 

[christineredgate]

Deborah,any shop which sells kiddies toys will have these.But buy the larger model,not the little cheap plastic ones,the bang from those is not loud enough,and yes they do scare off the cats.also a high powered waterpistol will work for the cats!!,a return to childhood!!!!

 

[deborah4]

THANKS Christine and Mary

It's sooo nice to know you understand !!!!! :girl:

 

[hil5]

Try an enclosed area

Poor Deborah,

Fortunately we don't have a problem here, as our garden is too dense in cover for the Seagulls to land and there are no Feral Pigeons.We do get many Collared Doves though and I gave them their own huge table which thankfully leaves the smaller tables and feeders free.Good luck Deborah.

I don't get seagulls unless I put bread on the garage roof. That's because the gardne is too small for them to land in.

My friend has a large garden but feeds the birds in a very enclosed area (by large trees and hedges). The tits, blackbirds etc come but he gets no problems with the larger birds. Starlings don't like very enclosed areas either so he feeds them outside this area.

 

[deborah4]

I don't get seagulls unless I put bread on the garage roof. That's because the gardne is too small for them to land in.

My friend has a large garden but feeds the birds in a very enclosed area (by large trees and hedges). The tits, blackbirds etc come but he gets no problems with the larger birds. Starlings don't like very enclosed areas either so he feeds them outside this area.

Hi Hil5

Unfortunately I have 1 very persistent seagull - he actually stalked all round (my large open) garden nearly all day, trampled through shrubs trying to find the tray of fat that was hanging there yesterday and working out how to reach the feeders on the washing line. He even started to pull the shrub apart when he realised the tray of suet mix had been taken away!!! :eek!: Would you believe it!! 2 more spent the rest of the day divebombing all the other small birds out of (what appeared) to be shear spite just because there was no food for them. :C Bring me squirrels pleeese!!!

The seagulls gave up eventually and by 3'oclock this afternoon, I had pigeons, chaffinch, pied & grey wags and starlings all paddling around a patio completely devoid of food because I decided not to put any out. I felt so sorry for them so went out and put a whole load of seed and bread out - the thrush didn't even bother to appear - none of it was eaten - its my suet mix theyre all after!!!!!

An enclosed area's not an option at the moment, I have major cat problems and have to keep food away from where they can launch surprise attacks. Eventually the trees I've planted will grow large and it will be much more difficult for them to land.

 

[Cathy H]

Deborah have you tried the scaredy cat plant, sorry but I don't remember it's proper name? It's supposed to keep cats away from your garden, but I don't know if it works.

:t:

 

[deborah4]

Deborah have you tried the scaredy cat plant, sorry but I don't remember it's proper name? It's supposed to keep cats away from your garden, but I don't know if it works.

:t:

:cat:
Is that the really stinky one that you have to dig up and bring indoors during the winter? - I can't remember its name either - thought about it yesterday though - I'll go for it if it doesn't involve high maintenance!