A PENNY-PINCHING humane hack to deter those pesky pigeons from nesting in your garden fence costs just 80p from your local supermarket.
Shockingly, a spicy sauce, likely available at your local corner shop, can prevent the common garden pests from setting up shop in your backyard.
As the sun makes its first tentative appearances, pigeons can become a real nuisance, especially if you live in a city dominated by the feathered mob bosses.
Not only can they put garden enthusiasts in a fowl mood, but they can damage plants, cause structural wear and leave droppings that attract rodents.
They are also carriers of diseases, and their droppings contain bacterial fungi that can cause respiratory issues and can, in extreme cases, be fatal.
However, a little-known hack can save the day, and mean you don’t have to skewer the birds on spikes.
Siracha, which costs just £80p in the upmarket supermarket Waitrose, deters the birds by irritating their beaks and feet, discouraging them from homing in on your garden.
Mark Cartright explained: “It works when pigeons fold their legs for flight and touch their bum.
“They get a burning association they associate with pain.”;
You could save £14.19, by replacing your Pigeon spray, which retails on Amazon for £14.99 with this simple kitchen ingredient.
It also has the added bonus of being fantastic on Tacos.
Wilmott Dixon Construction confirmed the efficacy of the technique and said it was recognised as a humane deterrent.
After a few visits, they won’t return.
Technical director of AviGo, Savvas Othon, who tested the technique said: “Feral Pigeons are intelligent and resourceful creatures, meaning they are well equipped to live and breed in seemingly inhospitable environments.
“This treatment uses that intelligence, teaching the birds where not to land and next without causing them harm.”;
The upside of this cheeky technique is that the watered-down hot sauce is nearly invisible to the naked eye and made from natural ingredients.
This is particularly beneficial if you have small children who have a tendency to pop illicit objects in their mouths from time to time.
Wilmott Dixon Construction confirmed the efficacy of the plan and said it was recognised as a humane deterrent.
After the pigeons have plodded in the spicy concoction, which you can apply liberally to your garden furniture, they tuck their feet up next to their genitals and experience mild irritation.
Quick learners, the birds will stop returning after getting burned a few times.
A little bit like eating a chilli straight causes humans real pain but rarely does lasting damage.
Safe Guard Pest Control suggests mixing the spicy concoction with vinegar to make it as stinky as possible as possible to put off the birds.
As an added bonus, Mike found that the “fiery insurance policy”; also discourages cats from using your garden as a portaloo.
He wrote: “We sprinkled hot chilli powder over parts of our borders where the neighbour’s cats kept digging up to do their business but once it gets on their paws and they clean themselves they soon get the message to stay in their own gardens.”;
People also point out that, like pigeon spray, there is an element of upkeep as you have to regularly apply the concoction otherwise the birds return.
Another worried that the pigeons will be traumatised.
Lee W wrote: “The people who claim this to be humane should experience what happens when you go for a pee after chopping chillies without giving your hands a good wash first.”;
But there is no evidence that Lee is a scientist or has had a past life as a pigeon.
