Feral pigeons.

[friendly blackbird]

Hello,

In the last 6 to 8 weeks, I'm inundated with feral pigeons, I can have 6 to 8 doves in the garden at any one time but they don't get a chance with the food. The pigeons stay until they've cleared the tables. I can go up to them and they just look at me and carry on eating. Is there any solution? I know they have to eat but they are just greedy.

Thank you,

Marie.

[John]

Originally Posted by friendly blackbird

Hello,

In the last 6 to 8 weeks, I'm inundated with feral pigeons, I can have 6 to 8 doves in the garden at any one time but they don't get a chance with the food. The pigeons stay until they've cleared the tables. I can go up to them and they just look at me and carry on eating. Is there any solution? I know they have to eat but they are just greedy.

Thank you,

Marie.

Hi Marie

First of all are you sure they are Feral and not Wood Pigeon. We have a lot of Wood Pigeons around at the moment and I must admit I do feed them. The only way you might deter them is to stop feeding them for a while. This will possibly lose you the Doves as well but to be honest when you start the feed again you may well get them back. They will possibly be roosting close to you anyway and will soon spot any food that is being left out.

The only other way is to just use feeders but obviously this means no Doves will visit along with the Pigeons.

John

[donky7]

aye,, you cant desciminate when feeding,,, feed em all or postpone for a while......

heres a woodie....... note the white ring around his neck....


these other 2 are ferals............

[friendly blackbird]

Hello,

Yes they are feral pigeons, the wood pigeons dissapeared about 6 weeks ago but I've seen a couple today. I don't mind feeding all of them but the feral's are so greedy. I leave them for a while feeding but they don't seem satisfied until they have cleared the tables. Maybe now that the wood pigeons are coming back they might be more forceful than the doves. I really don't want to lose the doves or the wood pigeons.

Thanks.

Marie.

[donky7]

Originally Posted by friendly blackbird

Hello,


Maybe now that the wood pigeons are coming back they might be more forceful than the doves.

Marie.

sorry, but i cant see this happening, the ferals are aggresive birds when food is in demand, what will happen if you do not halt the feeding, is these birds, if not already, will get established, then you will not only get them for life, but the mess that goes with it. once a squab has been born, he'll want to nest close bye to where his nest was. months down the line you will have yer own flock.......



this was inside my new garage roof 1 month after is was almost complete. ok it was my fault for allowing them to enter in the first place, but even now 7 months on, and sealed 200% the birds still hang around, and no i stopped feeding ages ago.....

hope this helps....... martyn.

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, the critical thing is to stop feeding them.
Amusing quiz on the subject: Guardian Unlimited | Quiz | Pigeon quiz

[nightshade]

Ferals are opportunists,clean up the ground frequently (as for rats) and fit a roof to the bird table with plenty of overhang to stop them landing,the smaller birds should not be affected
note which way the pigeons arrive and the times and go out to meet them with clapping hands, good luck

[Paul mabbott]

You don't think they might take that for applause and give an encore? Best to hiss and boo ...
On the subject of competition with woodpigeons, I've noticed that as feral numbers have been reduced in London, far more woodpigeons are seen .... not in the numbers of the ferals of course.

Originally Posted by nightshade

....... go out to meet them with clapping hands, good luck

[nightshade]

Greeting them with applause may incline them to think they
have gone to the wrong place

[aeshna5]

Wood Pigeons can compete well for food with Ferals, especially as they are larger. When I first started feeding birds in my garden I used to get up to 4 Feral Pigeons , but haven't seen 1 in garden for a few years now, but get up to 5/6 Woodies + max 20 Collared Doves (usually c.10), the latter only arrived in last 2 years.