Grey coloured with a small collar of iridescent feathers around the neckline, pigeons have two characteristic black stripes across each wing. While a majority are grey, you’ll also find brown and white coloured pigeons as well.

Unlike feral pigeons, you can identify domestic pigeons that are kept as pets or for racing by looking for a tag around their leg.

Here are some ways you can tell if you have a pigeon infestation:

• Many pigeons roosting and perching on your roof, eaves and window ledges or even nesting under your solar panels
• A large amount of brown-white pigeon droppings
• Nest debris appearing on your roof, such as sticks, twigs, pine needles, straw or grass stems
• Frequent chirping noises from chicks
• Damage to native plants in your garden from pecking
• Feathers accumulating around your roof and yard, in gutters and blocking drains, causing leaks and overflowing in plumbing

Learn more about the signs of a pigeon outbreak here.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, pest pigeons can still persistently cause problems at your home.

At Allstate, we have a range of treatments to manage a pest pigeon outbreak. Our technicians will advise which solution is the most appropriate for your circumstances.

At Allstate, we understand how stressful and disruptive a pigeon outbreak can be.

That’s why we have a range of innovative and effective, yet humane treatments that can help you rid of pest pigeons as quickly as possible. You can rest assured that all our treatments carried out respectfully and are nontoxic to people, pets and the environment.

We’re available 24/7 for all urgent pest enquiries to all suburbs of Adelaide in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, competitive warranties and payment plans, you don’t need to delay getting rid of pigeons from your home once and for all.

You may notice there are less birds in winter, and this is because many of them fly away to warmer climates to escape the chill.

However, you’ll find that pigeons are the exception. They have several physical, behavioural and physiological characteristics which make them well adapted to survive in cold weather.

Feathers

Besides providing insulation and protection from the harsh conditions, pigeons may fluff their feathers to trap air around their bodies, providing additional warmth.

Waterproofing 

Pigeons have special oil secreting uropygial or preen glands, which help to keep their feathers dry when it rains.

Regulating body temperature

Pigeons can reduce their exposure to the cold by tucking in their head and feet, sticking their feathers down and crouching. In extreme conditions, they can also constrict blood flow to their feet to further prevent heat loss.

Socialised behaviour

Flocks of pigeons are comfortable to huddle and roost close together to share warmth.

Since pigeons are very attached to their nests, they’re fortunate to have developed many attributes which help them survive in their preferred location during winter. So it’s important that they choose a spot which provides them optimum protection from the harsh elements.

Besides sturdy tree trunks, there are many places in urban areas which offer shelter and warmth for pigeons. 

As they are naturally attracted to the heat emitted from buildings during winter, pigeons can find access points to nesting spots in roof ventilators, attics, wall and roof spaces. They are capable of squeezing through gaps as small as an inch wide.

Once they enter your home or business and find a suitable nesting spot, it doesn’t take long for pigeons to build nests and lay eggs. This means that within a short amount of time you’ll be faced with a full-blown outbreak.

Flocks of pigeons swarming around your home or business can create many issues, so it’s best to prevent an infestation from happening in the first place.

Spreading diseases

Bird droppings and feathers can carry nasty bacteria such as e-coli and salmonella. This can lead to illnesses such as gastroenteritis. They can also host viruses, fungi and parasites and spread diseases such as the flu, ornithosis, toxoplasmosis, encephalitis, histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.

Triggering allergies

Parasites such as bird mites, bed bugs, ticks, mites and clothes moths can be carried by pigeons and their bites can trigger allergies in some people.

People who have serious bird allergies may also experience Bird Fancier’s Lung.

Damage to buildings

Pigeon droppings can cause discolouration and tarnish the appearance of buildings. Furthermore, they contain highly corrosive uric acid which can cause furniture, equipment, machines, construction materials and paint to rust and deteriorate.

Contamination of food, supplies and water

Poor hygiene and sanitisation can result from bird droppings, pecking, discarded feathers and debris from bird nests and dead birds.

Health and safety hazard

Fresh bird droppings on footpaths, steps and fire escapes can be slippery.

If you are experiencing an outbreak of pigeons, Allstate is here to help. Our pest control technicians use a range of techniques to prevent pigeons from perching on your roof and settling down in your roof space. This includes installing bird netting, spikes, wire, traps or even an electronic deterrent system. Read more about our most effective solutions for managing pest birds here.

OvoControl

At Allstate, we aim to offer the most humane, yet most effective solutions to help our clients remove their pest bird and pigeon problems. That’s why we always stay up to date with the latest in pest control innovations.

A recent breakthrough in bird control technology, the OvoControl system offers a humane and safe approach to prevente a pigeon outbreak naturally and with minimal disruption.

OvoControl works as a form of birth control to drastically reduce the pigion population. It AI-controlled automatic feeding baits containing Nicarbazin, an RSPCA-approved compound designed to disrupt egg fertilisation in pest birds. While humane, OvoControl is highly effective; it has been shown to significantly remove bird outbreaks within 2 years.

Speak to an Allstate customer service representative today to find out how OvoControl can help you manage pesky pigeons once and for all.

Many people are unaware that pest birds can pose more problems than just noise.

They can make a mess in hard-to-reach areas which may entice other pests like rats and mice, leading to further health and safety issues. And it’s not just rodents – birds can also bring in small biting insects that once in the home, can be hard to manage. This includes fleas, lice, flies, and bird mites.

When pest birds nest in and on your roof, they also cause property damage.

Their acidic droppings are a big problem for solar panels and HVAC systems, and can interfere with their function. Birds’ feathers and nest debris can also clog up drains and gutters, causing plumbing and water damage problems.

Pest birds also have pest implications. Adelaide birds are known disease carriers and can cause health problems such as:

• Salmonella
• Ornithosis
• Bird fanciers lung
• E-Coli
• Health issues from contaminated food and water supplies

At Allstate, we use a variety of methods to prevent and control pest birds, including:

• Bird netting
• Bird spikes
• Bird jolt
• Bird wire
• Cleaning
• Solar panel proofing
• Shooting
• Trapping

For more information on each of these methods, see our bird control solutions.

Their bites trigger allergies

Bird mite bites trigger allergies in people and pets (including pet birds), due to chemicals in their saliva which are secreted during a bite. These allergies can be quite nasty and even require treatment.

Sleep deprivation

Bird lice are most active at night, so an infestation will keep you awake experiencing a crawling sensation and scratching itchy bites.

They easily hide in bedding and furniture during the day

Bird lice have adapted to avoid treatment and protect their eggs, by hiding out of site. This prolongs the treatment process and makes it more difficult to exterminate them.

They reproduce quickly

Female bird mites usually lay a few dozen eggs over their lifetime. These eggs hatch in a matter of days, so it doesn’t take long for an outbreak to happen.

However, the following signs are a good indicator that the problem on your hands is a bird mite one:

Associated pest bird outbreak

Check for nearby pest birds, especially pigeons, and their nests. Make sure to check:

• Tour roof, chimney, eaves, window ledges
• Underneath solar panels
• Inside your roof space
• In basements, foundations or on porches

Bites on pet birds

If you have pet birds, check them for bites, which can appear as crusty, scaly, swollen skin or a rash.

Changes to pet bird behaviour

Watch for signs of infestation in birds, such as restlessness, frequently picking at their feathers and skin, making unusual sounds, or developing sinus issues and coughing or sneezing. Chickens lay poorer quality eggs and hatch fewer chicks.

Bites on people

When looking for a new host, bird lice ‘test bite’ humans, injecting saliva which triggers a skin reaction. This causes very itchy, swollen red spots on the skin, which can become an allergic rash if you are bitten multiple times, or they are frequently scratched. Bird mite bites are most likely to occur at night, and may also cause a crawling sensation on your skin.

If you’re worried about a bird lice infestation, reach out to us for an inspection.

Sometimes, despite your best preventative efforts, pest birds can still find their way into your roof space. Not only are they noisy and messy, they bring bird mites inside as well. Even worse, it can be difficult to access and clean your roof space to fix the issue.

That’s why Allstate, we offer a roof void cleaning service to remove any debris (and subsequent insects) left behind by pest birds. That way, you won’t have to worry about bird mites stopping you from getting the good night’s sleep that you deserve! Learn more about roof void cleaning here.

1. Pre-treatment inspection

We will conduct a thorough assessment of the roof, entry points, all possible nesting places, and inside the building, to come up with a plan to treat the outbreak.

2. Bird nest location and removal

Before getting rid of the mites, it’s important we remove any bird nests, which are the underlying cause of the problem.

3. Treatment

We apply insecticide powder and surface spray to all affected areas. All products we use are safe for people and pets, and approved by the Australian Veterinary Medicines and Pesticides Authority.

4. Follow-up treatment

Bird mite eggs are often well hidden and take a few days to hatch, so more severe outbreaks need to be treated in more than one visit. In our follow-up treatment we will review the situation and replenish the treatment as needed.

5. Report

We will send you the details on how we treated the outbreak. This also serves as a handy reference for you to keep in the case of any future issues.