Pigeons

Pigeons and other birds can cause unwanted damage to buildings through their droppings.

Please be aware that Gateshead Council can only deal with small scale jobs, such as proofing or culling pigeons from lofts.

If you have a pigeon problem

We recommend that you have a professional treatment carried out. 

We need to price this type of job after our initial inspection.

You will need to pay a non-refundable £16 call out fee before we can give you a quote. This will be deducted from your final bill.

Book an appointment

Alternatively, you can call us on 0191 433 7000 to arrange treatment. Our customer service line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

What happens at your appointment

On our first visit, the pest control officer will do some routine checks of the premise to identify where the pigeons are. This is usually a loft.

After this, the officer will lay a trap. They will then give you some advice on how to prevent the problem, which may include making repairs.

Finally, they will then arrange a follow-up appointment for later that day so they can check the trap and whether they have solved the pest problem.

The pest control officer may need to visit several times a day to make sure the pests are gone.

How to prevent a pigeon problem

The best way to get prevent pigeons is to make sure they have no access to your home, in particular your loft.

Therefore, it's best to make repairs or proofing to stop them gaining access.

Why pigeons are a problem

Pigeons can carry a variety of diseases through both their droppings and themselves, such as:

• Ornithosis
• Listeria
• E-coli

When dry, pigeon droppings can become airborne in small particles, which can lead to respiratory complaints such as psittacosis.

Pigeon droppings are acidic and can corrode or erode metals, stonework and brickwork.

As well as that, pigeon nesting and droppings attract parasites such as mites, ticks, fleas and beetles - which could lead to more pest problems.