How to stop birds popping on my washing?

Pooping! Not popping!

Is it my imagination or is the pigeon population on the increase? We have only had problems in the past two years. They were sitting on the pergola as we sat below..........DH has hung some CDs from the beams and so far so good.

Yes, we have more pigeons. One of my daughters had a problem this year. The pigeons dropped a few twigs onto her balcony and laid an egg. She was too soft hearted to do anything so has been unable to use her balcony while the egg hatched and then the parents fed the baby. She is waiting for it to fly away and is then going to try and make some sort of barrier.

I've tried hanging CDs around but the little blighters got used to them. Come to think about it, next door had 2 cats and they moved away and new owner has no cats......

Bird feeders on the other side of the garden? Then the pigeons - who clear up the dropped seed - will perch over that side instead. Or the hose pipe sprayed up their bottoms works, but you're obviously not up to doing that. I bought DH an attachment to the hose which has a sensor on it which sprays cats/birds when they go near the veggie plot. The trouble is it's not selective as to what or who gets sprayed!

Or get a cat yourself?

the only way to stop birds pooping on your washing is to not put it on the line! not satisfactory I know, Ive given up putting washing outside as it was being pooped on every time! most birds poop during flight, some countries say its lucky if you are pooped on

When we lived in the country the farmers used bird scarers. These sound like a gun shot going off every few minutes. It would work but the neighbours wouldn't like it much.

Or you could get a gun. Pigeon pie is delicious.

Having had cats all our lives, must say they deter small birds, but not the genetically modified pigeons that are everywhere (huge!) they strut about as if they own the place.
However, having washing out near or under a tree is asking for trouble, site the whirligig well away and in the open.?

We have a Casanova pigeon next door who always sits side by side with a lady pigeon, (who may not be the same one,) up on the top of the swings. They canoodle for a while before he jumps on top briefly and she flies off nonchalantly. He is a regular and must be the one "popping" on the washing.

Do they mate for life, he must have nests all.over the area?

We also have Granny pigeon who slowly strolls.over the road with no regard for cars, taking her time . My GD is keen that we write a book about her.

In my garden the birds seem to avoid the washing, until they have had their fill of elderberries, then it,s all systems go. Not nice.

Pigeons are a dreadful nuisance. They do poo in flight so anthing can get hit.

They sit on the wide eaves of my house and poo just out side my back door so I have to keep hosing it down. Can you move your rotary washing line?

Hi, and thanks for your ideas. Yes, I could move the washing line, at a pinch but it would get in the way a bit when the grandchildren come to play in the garden. Too much of a faff to take it in and out each time.

A cat, yes, I could be tempted. I've always had cats but was so upset when the last one died that I thought I couldn't face it again. However, last winter we had mice in the house and it may help if we had a cat. I just love cats, if I got one then I might as well get two. I guess bird feeders would not then be a good idea!

I think my ploy to turn the downstairs into a Chinese laundry yesterday evening might have worked as DH is now, albeit reluctantly, thinking about getting someone in to remove the (believe me, very ancient) tree. So, fingers crossed he follows this through. I don't like cutting down trees but you have to face it when one has had its day.

Anyway, in the autumn, I am going to buy a few fully grown trees as part of the garden project. We finally found a gardener who actually turns up when asked to so that can be his first job. I will have to give careful thought to where to site the new trees though.

I am going to buy a few fully grown trees as part of the garden project.
Good lord, you must have a huge garden! Or, if not, you're going to have nowhere to hang your washing without birds perched overhead.

Oo dumpling, I Thought it was only me wicked enough to hosepipe up the bum !!!!

Our neighbours cut their unproductive plum tree down, I am always loath to cut down trees but if there is no room for resiting the washing line it may be the only option.

I have noticed that my whirligig line is sited on a direct path between the hedge where the sparrows and blackbirds live and our soft fruit bushes which they love to raid! So far, not many poops and the pigeons and magpies seem to come from another direction.

Yes, there are more pigeons and they are getting fatter.
And we have a very aggressive young male blackbird this year - he sat on the trellis right next to me when I was weeding the other day and squawked and shouted at me, glaring at me all the time. He has just been out there again, squawking at no-one in particular.

Mmmm, yes, plum trees, pigeons, laundry. A recipe for disaster! Plum poop will stain. Chop down, cut back, or relocate the line. Hope you're feeling better today peaceatlast it's so hot today where I am, feeling unwell and sweaty won't be pleasant I'm sure. Get well soon.

I dont think anyone has mentioned getting your DH to hang out the washing?

That is what I would do.

It should produce results of one sort or another!

Well, I thought it obieone but didn't like to suggest it.

Anyway, hope you're feeling better peaceatlast; if your DH catches it from you, I hope you will be well enough to show him where the washing machine is.
and very best wishes

Lol, thanks, I'm definitely over the worst of my virus now, I'm pleased to say. I find such things totally wipe me out these days. I have always been susceptible but could usually carry on but not these days. I think I pick bugs up from my grandchildren though you would have thought that years of teaching would have given me some immunity.
Re DH, he does peg out the washing when asked but he is happy with it pegged up every which way.

I suppose our garden is quite big but there's a good few trees overhanging, both ours and neighbours'. This, combined with sun/shade considerations, and wanting to keep the lawn clear, somewhat limits the options.

You just have to ignore the way they peg the washing sometimes