Bird Control for the Home?

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm as much of an animal lover as most people, but I'm worried that some birds which appear to be nesting somewhere in my roof are going to cause problems. I don't see any nests from exploring the attic, and I don't see any nests outside the roof, but for the last few days I've clearly heard them pecking and scratching somewhere above our master bedroom. When Mrs. E and I just went outside to look for any sign of external nests, 2 birds flew away from our roof. Anyone know of any humane methods to keep them away?

[sterlingice]

You can't control Bird, he'll tear up whatever "home court" defense you design

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1998/bird/images/03-21-88.1.jpg

(seriously, tho, never had an attic so no idea how to keep birds out)

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

props to SI!

I also foresee a "Birth Control for the Home?" parody thread

[DaddyTorgo]

EF - might be that you could go up to where they're pecking at and cover it over with a towel and some screen if it's something in particular. I know that's what we did when we had a little entrance into the garage that squirrels were using - so if there's something attracting them to that spot that might work (of course if they're pecking at it because there are say...grubs in the roof maybe it's not such a bad thing)

[dacman]

Consecutive thread titles are the answer:

"Bird Control for the Home?"

"Do you own a gun?"

There ya go.

[Eaglesfan27]

While I was at work, my wife talked a neighbor into climbing on the roof. He found the start of a nest in the gutter. So, at least they might not really be in the attic.

[Karlifornia]

I didn't know you were British, EF.

Anyway, my advice to you is to stop giving these women your home address.

[Eaglesfan27]

Update:

Turns out the birds are in the attic space as determined by my wife today. She called the department of fish and wildlife and they gave us a list of "humane companies." The first one wanted 100 bucks to spray a chemical in there that would kill them all. That didn't sound too humane and they expected us to clean up the bodies.

2 companies want 300-350 dollars to come in, catch all of the birds, remove the nests, release the birds "into the wild", and seal up the hole that they came in through. The more expensive company offers a 1 year written guarantee that they won't get back in through the same hole.

[21C]

What about an ultrasonic bird repeller? A quick google search found quite a few under $100 and I would imagine they would be reasonably humane.

[Eaglesfan27]

What about an ultrasonic bird repeller? A quick google search found quite a few under $100 and I would imagine they would be reasonably humane.

That was the main thrust of starting this thread (besides venting.) Has anyone had experience with these repellers? I'm just not sure how well they actually work.

[terpkristin]

Do you know how they got in? At my parents' house, they had a vent that they would fly in, especially in winter. They put mesh on the inside of the vent, no more birds. I suppose it doesn't help you remove the ones you have but it might help in the future.
I also foresee a "Birth Control for the Home?" parody thread
Every time I see this thread on the page, I read "Birth Control for the Home." In a way, it's its own parody thread, at least for me. ;)

/tk

[Eaglesfan27]

Do you know how they got in? At my parents' house, they had a vent that they would fly in, especially in winter. They put mesh on the inside of the vent, no more birds. I suppose it doesn't help you remove the ones you have but it might help in the future.

Every time I see this thread on the page, I read "Birth Control for the Home." In a way, it's its own parody thread, at least for me. ;)

/tk


We aren't positive, but we think it is either a vent or a very small hole that we can't find along the roof.