Birds in the Attic

Education - Pigeons in the Attic

Sometimes pigeons enter the attic of your house and live there. Follow the below advice to safely remove pigeons in your attic.

How To Get Pigeons Out of Your Attic

Pigeons do sometimes live in attics. An attic is a big, dry, safe place to live in, and pigeons are notorious urban birds who thrive in and amongst human dwellings. I have removed them from inside the attics of houses and commercial buildings many times. Sometimes they'll just roost under the eaves, or in the eaves on the soffit, but often they will enter the attic given access.

Pigeons in the attic cause a few problems. First of all, they poop everywhere, and this feces, or guano as it is also called, can be a host for mold growth, and it can contain certain pathogens. Don't touch it, and be careful breathing around it. In addition, the feces can attract bugs like cockroaches. Pigeons also bring in nesting material, which can be dirty or clog vents or cause a fire hazard. Pigeons can also bring in lice and bird mites which can get in the house and bite.

To remove pigeons in the attic, you have to find out how they are getting in. You can trap them, or potentially shoo them out with a leaf blower, or best of all, set one-way exclusion doors that let them out but not back in. Be sure to not leave any nests of young behind! If you need professional help, we service most of the United States: click here to hire us in your town.

How to Get Rid of Pigeons in the Attic - 4 How-To Steps

1 - Inspect the Attic, Identify Pigeon

Inspect inside your attic for pigeon sign. Look for the animal(s), or their feces, or tracks, or damage so that you know what kind of bird you are dealing with. The feathers are the best clue, as are the eggs in the nests.

2 - Inspect the Exterior of the Home

If you've got pigeons in the attic, they are getting inside somehow. You have open holes or gaps leading inside the house! You must find these areas to solve the problem. In the above photo, I've mounted a trap on the entry/exit hole.

3 - Remove or Trap the Pigeons

The best way to get rid of pigeon in the attic is to either exclude them or trap them. In the above photo, I've set a bird trap to catch the pigeons. But really, the best way is to set one-way doors or netting that allow them out, but not back in.

4 - Repair Entry Holes and Clean

To prevent the problem from happening again, seal shut the entry hole(s)! Also, in the case of pigeons, or Rock Doves, it's a good idea to clean all the droppings in the attic and remove the nesting material and feathers.

HOW MUCH DOES PIGEON REMOVAL COST? Prices vary depending on the situation. Some jobs are simple, require only one service visit, and might be as low as $100. Some jobs are complex, require multiple service visits, home repairs, attic cleanup, and so on. Prices can also vary by city. To get the best price estimate, call our technician in your area: Click here for a free price quote over the phone in your town.

Information About Pigeons in the Attic

How To Get Pigeons Out Of Your Attic
As soon as you notice pigeons living in your attic, you should take immediate steps to get rid of them. Just like any other wildlife, pigeons can cause damage to your home, largely by leaving behind a great deal of waste. This waste is a mess, smells bad, and carries a strong risk of disease, making it hazardous to your health and that of your family. Unfortunately, getting pigeons out of your attic can take some time and expert along with expertise, but it is very possible.

Avoid The Issue In The First Place
While you can get pigeons out of your attic, it is best if you never have to deal with this issue in the first place. To do this, make sure that the pigeons don’t have a way of getting into your attic. This means ensuring there are no gaps in the roof, siding, or anything else that can give them an entrance to your home. As a bonus, any steps you take to keep pigeons away will also discourage or prevent other wildlife from entering your attic.

You can also discourage pigeons from taking up residence in your attic by getting rid of potential perches. If, for example, they live in your attic and perch on your roof, you can increase its slant so they can no longer get a strong footing and will look somewhere else. You can also try installing porcupine wires or pigeon spikes to strategic areas the birds may choose to roost. These things won’t harm the birds; only stop them from choosing your home to roost on. There is even bird netting that is high-density, UV-resistant, and made of polyurethane that you can install on the overhangs, eaves, and roof to prevent roosting outside. Remember that the less attractive your home is to pigeons, the less likely they are to enter your attic in the first place.

One-Way Exclusion Device
Assuming the pigeons are already in your attic, you have your work cut out for you. That being said, you can get a good amount of them out with some help from a one-way exclusion device, whether it is store bought or homemade. Experts can even drape netting in a way that lets the nuisance birds leave but not reenter. Keep in mind, however, that not all of the pigeons will always leave the attic once the exclusion device is in place. You will need to seal up all entry points to the attic except the one covered by the exclusion device for this method to be successful; otherwise, the birds will just come back in a different way.

Physically Remove Pigeons
After a few days of the exclusion device or netting being in place, it is time to actually go in the attic and physically remove the remaining birds. Always wear protective gear if you have to resort to this step, including thick gloves, a nose mask, and coveralls at the minimum. There are even pigeon traps you can set up in your attic to catch the birds, but they can sometimes be challenging to use successfully. Don't forget to remove the nesting material and remember that pigeons can leave eggs in the attic that should be removed as well.

Get Professional Help
Since pigeons can be somewhat hard to remove if they have gotten cozy in your home’s attic, it is a good idea to hire a professional to take care of them for you. They will already have an exclusion device or the materials to make one so you don’t have to worry about figuring out how to install it correctly. Their experience also allows them to find entry points more easily, ensuring that the pigeons don’t have a way to get back inside. In cases when pigeons have to be physically removed, you will be glad you got help from a professional. They will be able to catch the birds much more easily than you would, saving you frustration and time.

Prevent More Pigeons From Coming
Your work isn’t done just because the pigeons are out of your attic. You still need to make sure no new birds come inside and take their place. The best way to do this is sealing up every single entry point that they could be using and taking the other preventative measures mentioned above.

Clean Up The Attic
Once the pigeons are all out of your attic, it is time to clean up the space. Wear protective gear during this task since there will be parasites and plenty of bacteria in the pigeon waste. You will have to physically remove all of the pigeon droppings and dispose of them safely. At the end, apply an enzyme-based formula that gets rid of any leftover biodegradable waste products as this is the only way to ensure the attic is truly clean. It is best to apply these cleaners with atomizing sprayers as they will be able to reach every nook and cranny in the space, ensuring there is no waste left. If you aren’t up to the task of cleaning the attic yourself, you can have a professional do it for you. In many cases, the same expert who removed the pigeons will offer this service. If not, they will have a suggestion of a company that does.

The Bottom Line

How to get rid of pigeons in the attic - they are not so easily just "gotten rid of". But they can be properly and effectively removed, and the problem can be prevented from happening again. Remember to follow the steps above, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. It is not easy work, but if you don't remove the pigeons in your attic, they will go on to cause further damage. When you do decide to remove them, please remember to treat the animals with respect, and take the work seriously, and remember about the presence of baby birds in the attic. You can get rid of pigeons in the attic if you follow the correct approach. Best of luck!