Living with pigeons
Pigeons can be found in busy cities to mature woodlands – anywhere they can access food, water and high-up roosting spots, including rooftops, windowsills, balconies and gardens.
On this page, you’ll learn how to help pigeons in your garden, which laws protect them, and how to safely and humanely deter them.
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What to feed pigeons
Pigeons need a diet rich in seeds and grains to stay healthy. Though pigeons in urban areas have access to an array of scraps, these foods aren’t often nutritious. Feeding pigeons in your garden and local parks can help them thrive in these people-populated environments, where food sources may be limited.
Do feed:
- Seeds and grains: Such as oats, sunflower seeds, wheat and millet. This makes up the majority of their diet.
- Berries and fruits: Like elderberries, holly, ivy, hawthorn and even apples and pears (in small chunks to prevent choking). These are an incredible source of fibre, minerals and vitamins.
- Nuts: Including peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and other types of unsalted and unshelled nuts. Make sure to chop these up into tiny pieces to prevent choking.
- Vegetables: If available, pigeons may also eat leafy greens like spinach, lettuce and even dandelion greens.
- Clean water: Provide access to clean, fresh water, changing the water daily to limit the risk of disease spreading.
Feed pigeons moderately and seasonally. When feeding them seeds, grains and nuts, only do so from November to April, to support them through the winter. And don’t feed them a seed-only diet, as this can lead to nutrient deficiencies and cause birds to become reliant on you as a source of food.
Don’t feed them:
- Bread: While not immediately harmful, this lacks any nutrients.
- Chocolate: The theobromine and caffeine in chocolate are toxic to birds.
- Onion and garlic: Even small amounts can be fatal.
- Whole peanuts: Can be a choking hazard to birds and their babies if not chopped up into small pieces.
- Salt: May lead to dehydration and organ failure.
- Dairy: Most birds are lactose intolerant.
- Avocado: Contains a toxin that can be fatal to birds.
- Fruit pits: Certain fruit pits and seeds are toxic to birds.
- Desiccated coconut: Can cause stomach upset and even be fatal.
- Mouldy food: May lead to illness and disease.
Pigeons can recognise an act of kindness, even learning the face of the person who’s helped them. If you feed the same pigeons regularly, they may even consider you part of their flock!
activity
Backyard treats for birds
Turn your garden into a pigeon paradise by making your own garden bird treats or eco bird feeder.
How to deter pigeons
Pigeons are not pests but an important part of the ecosystem. They clean up scraps and waste (often left by humans), eat insects, aid pollination by transferring pollen on their feathers and beaks (called ornithophily, pollination by birds) and spread seeds as natural foragers.
They’re friendly, clean and intelligent creatures who are happy to live with humanity. So, where possible, we should welcome them into the wild spaces we care for, too.
However, some people consider pigeons a problem due to the mess they can make when roosting and nesting on ledges, rooftops and in chimneys, while others consider them a risk to health and safety. If you want to prevent them from settling on your property, learn how to deter pigeons humanely, below.
How to deter pigeons from my garden
Pigeons can be beneficial garden visitors, however they can occasionally eat crops and scare smaller birds away.
If you’re wondering how to deter pigeons from your garden, the most humane and effective way is to reduce their access to food, as this is often what attracts them. However, if you feed other birds in your garden, it can be difficult to feed them without feeding pigeons as well.
You could try:
- Taking a break from putting food out for birds
- Disposing of edible litter carefully (secure your bins so birds can’t access it)
- Moving feeders away from perches, or use feeders with slippery tops so larger birds are unable to perch as easily
- Using feeders with narrow feeding holes, ideal for smaller birds
- Using smaller seed mixes (November to April only), as pigeons tend to prefer larger grains
Consider coexisting with the pigeons in your outdoor space, especially if you’re feeding other birds. They’re all welcome parts of British wildlife and deserve the chance to thrive.
It is illegal to remove pigeons by:
- Poisoning
- Destroying nests
- Using glue traps
- Trapping without a licence
- Installing netting/proofing improperly
- Shooting without a licence
How to deter pigeons from my roof or balcony
Pigeons prefer to roost and nest in elevated spots, like balconies, windowsills, chimneys and rooftops. They tend to be hidden neighbours, though some people might dislike the poop and natural debris from a pigeon nest on a roof or balcony.
The safest, most humane way to stop pigeons nesting or roosting include:
- Installing netting: When properly installed, netting helps to keep pigeons off surfaces. However, if they aren’t safely constructed or maintained, pigeons may get trapped in the netting, which can lead to death.
- Wire-frame structures: These stop pigeons from settling on flat roofs and chimney pots by preventing them from opening their wings once they’ve landed.
- Anti-perching devices: Non-lethal spikes and spines, when installed safely, are one of the most humane ways to deter pigeons. They prevent pigeons from landing, providing an uncomfortable spot to perch, but won’t hurt or impale the birds.
Are pigeons protected?
All species of pigeons – feral pigeons, collared, stock and turtle doves, and wood pigeons – are protected in England, Scotland and Wales, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. As are all wild birds, their eggs, young and nests. This means it’s an offence (except under licence) to:
- Damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird in use or being built
- Destroy or remove any egg of any wild bird
- Take, kill or injure any wild bird or their young
You can’t kill a pigeon unless a licence has been granted by Natural England or Natural Resources Wales.
If you’re concerned that someone has illegally injured or killed a pigeon – or you’ve spotted any suspicious / illegal wild bird activity (such as glue trapping, poisoning, destroying nests or being killed with the use of catapults) or found a dead bird that looks as though it was intentionally killed – report it online to the police. If the crime is in process, call the police on 999, or on 101 for anything non-urgent.
Can you move a pigeon nest?
Moving a pigeon nest is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, except under licence.
If you find an active pigeon nest on your property, leave it alone until all the eggs have hatched, and the chicks have fledged the nest before taking any measures to remove or block access to it.
Do pigeons carry diseases?
Like other animals, pigeons do carry diseases, but rarely any that can spread to humans and pets through casual contact.
Pigeons commonly suffer from pigeon pox (a viral disease that causes wart-like growths on their beaks, eyes, legs and feet, or lesions in their mouth), but this can’t be caught by people or other animals. Other wild animals, domestic pets, and farm animals can all carry disease, just like us.
Contrary to what many believe, pigeons are extremely clean creatures, who are highly resistant to bird flu. There’s very little risk of catching anything from pigeons themselves. However, pigeon poop, like that of other animals, can contain bacteria and parasites that can be harmful to humans. Avoid direct contact with any faeces where possible. If any does get on your clothes or skin, clean it off as soon as you can, washing your hands thoroughly.
Is it okay for children to chase pigeons?
We don’t recommend allowing children to chase pigeons. While it may only be a playful act from the child, it can scare the pigeons, causing unnecessary stress and suffering and forcing them to flee from panic. They may even become injured in their attempt to fly away.
Bird flu warning
Don’t touch or handle sick or dead birds. However, if you have to, thoroughly wash your hands immediately afterwards, keeping them away from your face or food. Due to the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) currently in place across the UK, some birds can't be handled.
