Tending to duties around the farm shouldn’t entail controlling birds and cleaning up the mess they leave behind. Sharing the barn with pest birds is unsanitary, dangerous and costly. Nuisance birds like pigeons, starlings and barn swallows can take time out of your already strict daily routines and cause you problems. As the costs and dangers of birds in dairy and livestock operations add up quickly, it’s time to take action. See how to get rid of birds in your pole barn with these three tips.
1. How to Get Rid of Birds In the Pole Barn’s Interior
Barn swallows are especially known for being determined to rebuild their nests even after they’re removed or destroyed. While it may be tempting to destroy where they have set up shop, they are federally protected. It is illegal to harm the nests in any way if there is a possibility of eggs or baby birds being inside. Play it safe and bird-proof the dairy barn using one or a few of these ideas.
- Keep up with cleaning. Clean up any spilled grains, oats, seeds, wheat or other sources of feed that attract birds.
- Seal your feed. Store feed in sealed, plastic containers that birds can’t peck through.
- Cover feeders. Exclude birds from snacking on the feeders intended for your barn animals by using covered feeders.
- Monitor troughs. Water should be deep enough where birds can’t stand in it but also shallow enough where birds perched on the edge can’t drink it either.
Related: Federal Regulations: What You Need to Know About Getting Rid of Canadian Geese
2. How to Get Rid of Birds In the Pole Barn’s Exterior
The inside of the barn tends to be the preferred nesting zone for birds, but they don’t stop there. Determined swallows will use barn doorways, eaves or rafters to build their nests. To deter birds from making your barn their home, try making these areas unpleasant for inhabiting. You can do this by making the area difficult to reach and inconvenient to build a nest upon. Check out these tips for bird-proofing your exterior pole barns.
- Hang plastic. Acting as a door, long, thick plastic strips in doorways prevents birds from flying into barns.
- Block openings. Use wood, metal, glass or wire mesh to interrupt access to lofts, vents and eaves.
- Use netting. Cover the undersides of rafters or other problem areas that are attracting birds, including livestock.
Related: How to Repel Birds
3. Replace Your Old Bird Repellent Methods
It’s out with the old and in with new, effective ways to deter birds. A lot of do-it-yourself tactics are guessing games and the time you put into it might not have results. Liquid bird repellent is a proven method that involves minimal work and lasts for weeks. Just a few of the old bird repellent technologies you’ll be able to replace include:
- Trained hawks. Hiring a professional falconer or hawk trainer is expensive and unnecessary.
- Barn cats. Not only are they not foolproof, but they can harm your animals and get in the way.
- Noisemakers. The loud noises can distract you, your neighbors and your animals. Plus, birds can get used to the sounds after time.
- Scare tactics. While scare tactics can be effective, they run the risk of spooking your own animals in the process.
A lot of old tactics require constant updating in order to keep birds from catching on. Liquid bird repellent won’t require constantly updating your noisemaker or rearranging decoys. Spraying the areas in and around your pole barn is a lot easier than putting netting, fencing or other protective gadgets up.
Related: How to Keep Birds Away from Cider Mills
Trust Avian Control to Protect Your Pole Barn
Avian Control will deter birds before they even think about setting up their new nests for the season. Protect your livestock from avian diseases and droppings with our liquid bird repellent. Call 888.868.1982 to order or contact us for more information today!
3 Tips on How to Keep Pole Barns Bird-Free