How to Control Pigeons’ Population Growth Without Killing Them
There are basically only two ways to manage a pigeon population – kill them faster than they can breed or reduce their reproduction. Killing pigeons is not regarded as a humane option by many individuals, and there are ways to control population growth without resorting to killing them.
Using poison, live trapping and shooting pigeons are just some of the ways people try to control a pigeon population, but these methods have some serious limitations. One of the best ways to reduce the growth of a pigeon population is by using pigeon ‘birth control’. Read on to find out more about why poisoning, trapping or shooting are not that effective and how to use OvoControl’s pigeon population control method.
Why is using poison to kill pigeons a bad idea?
The advantage of using bird poisons is that the results are immediate and easy to measure.
The problem with killing pigeons using poison is that this has many risks. If you end up killing other birds, such as a protected species, you can receive huge fines from federal, state or local agencies.
People’s pets may eat a poisoned pigeon and die too. There is even the danger of a child playing with a poisoned pigeon. If you can’t find the dead pigeons and they are eaten by another bird or other animal, secondary effects are a hazard. The public reaction to poisoning pigeons could ruin the reputation of a business. The potential for poisoning other birds and pets is an unacceptable risk, even in areas where it is legal. Poison is even 50% of a flock, and the remaining pigeons accelerate their breeding to make up the difference within a few weeks or months.
Controlling the population growth of pigeons without killing them is possible using OvoControl’s pigeon control strategy. You can reduce a pigeon population gradually by using pigeon ‘birth control’ to interrupt the constant breeding cycle.
Why doesn’t live trapping work?
Live trapping involves conditioning pigeons to move in and out of a trap baited with grain. Once they are used to this, the door is switched to a one-way door, and the pigeons can’t exit the trap. They can’t just be relocated once they are trapped because they have a strong homing instinct. As they can find their way back to their original location, euthanizing them is the only option once you have trapped them.
Is shooting a better option?
There are various limitations when shooting pigeons. Shooting in an urban area isn’t permitted and can often lead to unintended consequences. You need to live in a very remote, rural location if you want to shoot pigeons. Shooting pigeons also only deals with a portion of the population that rapidly expands to fill the void. It only takes a few weeks or months for the population to be back where it started.
Should you use raptors for pigeon control?
Using a raptor or bird of prey offers a natural way to kill pigeons. Many types of falcons, hawks and owls feed on pigeons. You may consider installing a nesting habitat for a raptor, such as an owl box. Whether you can actually attract a raptor is one disadvantage of this method, and once again, the quicker the predator kills the pigeons, the quicker they breed to fill the void. Breeding pairs can breed up to six times a year with one or two eggs per clutch.
Why it helps to layer your defenses
Many methods used to control pigeon populations aren’t 100% effective on their own. This is why using various methods together can work better than using one method on its own.
Using trapping in parallel with birth control helps to increase mortality and reduce the pigeon population. Reducing a pigeon population by using the OvoControl method involves filling an automated feeder with bait like corn and getting the pigeons accustomed to coming at the same time every day to eat when it’s triggered. As they get used to eating corn every day, you gradually replace it with OvoControl.
Bread-based pellets contain an active ingredient that prevents eggs laid by treated females from being fertilized, and they don’t hatch. It takes some time to deal with your pigeon population as this method works gradually, but it deals with it in a predictable manner over time. Treated sites typically experience a 50% decrease in the pigeon population every year when the pigeons eat the OvoControl kibble.
To sum it up
Poisons, trapping, shooting and using natural predators can help to reduce your pigeon population and are relatively inexpensive methods that produce tangible results. However, the risks of using such methods outweigh the benefits. It is better to use safer, more effective, humane techniques, such as OvoControl’s pigeon birth control, to manage your pigeon population.
