We have all had unexpected guests in our homes. They come in by accident and refuse to leave because of a steady food supply. Often they hide out in parts of our homes where we only discover them months later, and by then, it could be too late. These guests are, of course, the flying kind and are commonly known as sparrows. You could get a Birmingham pest control company to come in and remove them, but there are also ways that you can guard your home against having these uninvited pests come in. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can keep your home pest-free:
Vegetable gardens
The reason why birds often flock to home is that they find a good place to roost with a steady food source that’s safe for their young. Like any good parent, birds want safety and security, and homes with vegetable gardens are the number one destination. You can make their stay less welcoming by adding reflective trinkets to your garden floor. The light reflecting off the charms deters the birds from settling down to feed, which keeps them off your vegetables. Using a vinegar spritz on your vegetables will also keep them away because of the smell. You can go the extra mile by leaving toy snakes or terror balloons around as well.
Over-the-counter Pest control systems
Many household items that supermarkets sell to help you keep your home pest and bird free. One of the more effective ones is anti-pest timer sprays. These repellents release a spritz onto the home to deter the pests from coming close. They are inexpensive and are sold at hardware stores or supermarkets with a hardware section.
Anti-roosting Spikes
These spikes are the most common form of keeping birds off a roof or coming into an open window. They are widely sold at hardware stores and can be the longest-lasting repellent if you are on a budget and can’t afford the personal upkeep of constantly needing to rid your home of pests. You can attach them to the edge of the roof or the window sill of windows where you usually see birds sitting. They prevent the birds from landing and roosting anywhere close to them.
Sparrow traps
Setting up sparrow traps is a safe, humane way to keep them from coming back and yourself out of jail. UK’s European obligations prohibit anyone from killing wild birds in the UK, and having them catch you killing sparrows could land you in some serious hot water. If the number of birds you are witnessing is too overwhelming for you to keep doing it, call a pest control company to assist you.
Solving the nesting problem
To solve successfully, you will need to understand its root, so when do sparrows nest, and how can you intercept that process? Sparrows can start nesting as early as January and could continue straight through July. The quickest way to spot the process is to see a male sparrow (with grey and yellow markings) constantly hanging around one particular area. The male is responsible for house hunting and will start to call for a female when he has found a place to nest. You might see them dust bathing around your home in the dirt as a means of removing parasites. Much like their pesky relative, the pigeon and sparrows have hygiene habits that they like to exercise in preparation for mating and eliminating the parasites. This ritual is how the males make their wings more welcoming for the females to snuggle for roosting.
In the essence of avoiding cruelty to animals, it would be best to try and keep your home as keen on the outside as possible. Keep dustbins clean and free of rubbish overflowing from it. Water down the paving around your home and spray a vinegar, baking soda and water mixture around so that they are not attracted to any particular area. Do not leave animal feed outside if you start seeing sparrows everywhere. They will find a way to return if they see a steady food source.
We all want our homes to be free of pests as much as they can be, but they will never be completely free. Even when you are tempted to get rid of them swiftly, be mindful of these animals and refer to a professional if you cannot solve the problem yourself.
