How to get rid of pigeons on your balcony and what really works

Pigeons keep coming back to a balcony because it is quiet, there is somewhere to perch and often something to peck at. The only way to get rid of them is to make the balcony unsuitable for them. We explain what works for just a few days, what helps more, and how to fit anti-pigeon spikes so they no longer land on the railing or windowsill.

Why pigeons come to your balcony

A pigeon looks for a place to perch, a corner to build a nest in, and food. On a balcony this is usually the railing, the windowsill, the ledge above the window, or the space behind flower pots and under the awning. The droppings underneath show where pigeons perch most often. That is exactly where to start. Pigeons like to return to where they have nested before, so it pays to act as soon as they start showing up on the balcony.

What only helps for a while

• Scarers, for example a plastic owl, a bird of prey silhouette, CDs or reflective tape. Pigeons are afraid of them at first, but they often get used to an object that does not move or always moves the same way.
• Shooing them away by clapping, with water or a cloth. The pigeon flies off and comes back as soon as nobody is on the balcony.
• Cleaning alone. A washed balcony only stays clean until the pigeons fly back to the same spot.

What really works

What helps is taking away the pigeons’ food and making it impossible for them to land.

1. No food on the balcony. Do not feed the birds, do not leave pet bowls or food scraps outside, and clean up feed spilled from bird feeders.
2. Nowhere to perch. Fit a spike strip on the edges where pigeons land. The spikes do not hurt the birds, they just stop them from landing or building a nest.
3. Enclosing the space. A loggia or the whole balcony can be enclosed with netting, but it changes how it looks. In an apartment building, it is a good idea to discuss it with the building manager or the owners’ association beforehand.

Stainless steel anti-pigeon spike strip

Our all-stainless-steel strip with 80 spikes is 100 cm long, its base is 2 cm wide and the whole strip is about 10 cm high. Both the spikes and the base are made of stainless steel, so the strip does not rust and is not harmed by rain or strong sunshine. The base is flexible and sits well even on uneven and rounded surfaces such as railings. The spikes are densely spaced, yet they are not conspicuous on the building.

You can use the strip wherever pigeons perch or nest:

• balcony railings, windowsills, ledges and low walls,
• gutters, chimneys, skylights and roof structures,
• awnings and facades where pigeons build nests,
• industrial, warehouse and agricultural buildings.

Fitting the spikes step by step

1. Clean the surface. Remove droppings and dust, wash the surface and let it dry. Wear gloves when cleaning up droppings.
2. Measure the length. One strip protects 100 cm. You can fit strips end to end or shorten them, so the protection matches the exact length of the railing or windowsill.
3. Choose the fixing method. Screw the strip on through the holes in the base between the spikes, or glue it with ordinary construction adhesive. It holds best when you combine both.
4. Keep an eye on the surroundings. If the pigeons start landing elsewhere, such as a windowsill one floor down or a small canopy above a window, protect those spots too.

You can fit them yourself.

Pigeons on windowsills and under the roof

On a windowsill or a ledge under the roof, the same applies as on a balcony: pigeons need a flat place to perch. Fit strips along the full length of the windowsill or ledge and fix them with screws, adhesive or both, depending on what the surface allows. For spots high up that you cannot safely reach from a window or a ladder, hire a company that does work at height.

How many strips you need

Add up the lengths of all the places where pigeons perch and round up to whole metres. Example: a 3.5 m railing and a 1.2 m windowsill add up to 4.7 m, so 5 strips.

We sell the strips in packs of 25, which is 25 metres of protection, and shipping anywhere in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is included in the price. A pack is worth it for a whole building, several balconies or a joint purchase with your neighbours. Need a different quantity? Call us on +420 737 246 887 or send us a quote request.

Summary

Scarers and shooing help for a few days. What helps more is taking away the pigeons’ food and fitting spikes where they land. The stainless steel strip does not hurt the birds, does not rust and you can fit it yourself.