How to Keep Birds Off Your Porch

Birds have always seemed to love our porches. If they weren’t perched on the railing, they were building nests on top of the posts. While it seemed harmless at first, we quickly realized that birds can actually cause a lot of damage to a porch. Their droppings can stain and discolor porch furniture and their nests can block gutters and downspouts. This can cause water to back up and potentially result in damage over time. So, how do you keep birds off your porch? Read on to find out!

Get Rid of What’s Attracting the Birds

There are a few things you can do to keep birds off your porch. The first is to make sure there’s nothing on your porch that would attract them in the first place. This means keeping things like food and water dishes clean and empty. If you have any plants on your porch, make sure they’re well-watered so the birds don’t see them as a potential source of food.

Scare Them Away

You can also try using physical deterrents to keep the birds away. One popular method is to hang plastic owls or snakes from the eaves of the porch. Birds are naturally afraid of these predators, so seeing them will usually stop them from landing on your porch altogether. You can also try stringing up some shiny objects like tinsel or Mylar balloons. The reflection from these objects will startle the birds and keep them away.

However, if you are like us, and care about the appearance of your porch, hanging shiny balloons around might not be the best option.

There are also a number of more advanced options available that can scare birds away. These devices detect motion and emit high-frequency sounds and flashing lights to scare the birds away. Most of these are solar-powered, so placement is important. So you’ll need to make sure you are placing them in a spot that gets sunlight and is visible to the birds.

A Different “Solution”

If all else fails, you can always try using chemical deterrents. There are a number of commercial bird repellents available, or you can make your own solution by mixing equal parts chili pepper and water in a spray bottle. Spritz this mixture around the perimeter of your porch, and the birds should stay away. Just be careful not to get any of the spray in your eyes!

Birds can be real nuisances when they decide to roost on your porch. But with a little vigilance and effort, you can keep those feathered pests at bay. Just remember to remove anything that might attract them in the first place, use physical or chemical deterrents as needed, and enjoy your bird-free porch!