Swallows have taken over my front door!! How do I get rid of them?
Question:In the last couple of weeks 2 swallow birds have made a nest on my front porch, I dont want to kill them, because well... I love birds, but these two swoop down at me everytime I go outside. I am really short so I cant see if they have any eggs in their nest, so I am afraid to move it. I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem? I mean man! These two birds are really really territorial! I have a 3 year old and would like to be able to take him outside again!
Answers:
.Glad to hear you like birds, hope that means you are not willing to kill them. You can count on the nest having eggs in it. If you move the nest you will most likely kill the embryos they can not be jarred or rolled around. Birds grow really fast and they will be gone in no time. There must not be much activity at your porch or they would not have made the nest there. Maybe you could use the back door for a while or use an umbrella till they are gone. My guess would be you may only have to wait about 3 more weeks or so till they are gone then you can take down the nest. One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the appreciation and value of life.
Spray them/their nest thoroughly with the following non-lethal concoction: 3/4 water, 3/8 vegetable oil and 1/8 cyane pepper powder.
i dont think you should get rid of them. they are creatures just like you and me, but if you really want to ask someone to get rid of them, ask an animal expert.
a broom works, just when you go outside, bring a broom and swat at them.
Get animal control out to your house. They should be able to move the nest for you. Or, just wait it out until the babies are grown and they leave naturally. It will be just a few weeks after the babies are born (if there is a nest there are most likely eggs in it).
You should call somebody to help you, because I know a little about birds. They probably do have eggs in the nest. You would hear them if the babies hatched believe me. They are really noisy. All the time, and the parents will be even more protective when the little ones hatch. They continue to mate and have more and more litters until it gets cold. Many people think they just have one family, but they may have 3 to 5 families before they stop laying eggs. You really need to get them moved away from the house. There will also be a lot of poo from them. Not a healthy environment for a baby. Call a bird society and ask what you can do. Good Luck
your scared of two birds? just scare them off and knock the nest down otherwise they will still be around.
Well not this season, but in the fall Knock down the nest and in the very early spring get a plastic snake, REALLY at a joke shop and put it up were the nest was.
You can also feel good because if swallows return to the same nest year after year, they get infected with bird mites and it hurts their population!
In the mean time get a good umbrella every time you leave the house and have it in the UP position!
I guess you are talking about barn swallows, the kind that make a mud nest that somehow adheres to beam or vertical surface. Just thinking about them makes my hands ache from milking seven to nine cows as a kid. Like you, I love to see them dart and swoop after insects on the wing, and when they perch, they are such a delicate little bird. I used to like to hear the nestlings chirping; new life is always affecting.
Were I in your situation, I would use the side door for a couple weeks and when the little ones are gone, tear down the nest and hose off the spot. If they try to rebuild, wash off the mud before they can really get started. They will only try a couple days before finding a more hospitable local for their nest.
Maybe you can teach that toddler something about life values and life itself sharing with your swallows.
If you can bear with it for a little while longer, usually the birds will get used to your comings and goings. Is there a side door that you could use in the meantime? Keep an eye on the nest and after the eggs have hatched, and you're sure that the babies have grown and are gone, then you could then move the nest (especially since the parents will most likely use it again and you already know how protective they are!). If they try to rebuild in the same spot and you decide you don't want to go thru' it again, just keep removing the nesting material and they'll set up home somewhere else.
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