Goodwood straddles Voortrekker Road, with older family homes on the quiet streets and shops, workshops and takeaways on the main drag. We get a fair split between householders with mice in the roof and businesses fighting cockroaches.
Birds around Goodwood
Pigeons nest on shop roofs, signs and the ledges along Voortrekker Road. Spikes and netting keep shopfronts clean.
Residential streets are lined with post-war freestanding homes, many with tiled roofs, outside rooms and big backyards. Voortrekker Road and the streets off it carry shops, motor workshops, takeaways and flats above businesses. Older homes often have suspended timber floors and old roof timbers. Larger venues and the showgrounds bring crowds and food stalls when events are on.
The area is flat and fairly built-up, sitting between the N1 and the railway line. Summers get hot and dry once you move inland from the coast, and winters are wet and cold. Open ground near the railway and the N1 lets rodents move about.
Mice and rats in roofs, German cockroaches in businesses and flats, and Argentine ants in summer are the bulk of our Goodwood calls. Pigeons along Voortrekker Road and fleas with pets fill in the rest.
From the technician
Bird proofing involves no poison at all, which makes it a good option for homes with children, dogs and cats.
What gives them away
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Cooing, scratching or flapping in the roof space or behind the gutters early in the morning.
- A sour smell around a roof area where birds have been nesting for a long time.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
How the treatment works
We start by watching where the birds actually land and nest, because proofing the wrong ledge is a waste of money. Ledges and beams get bird spikes or tensioned wire systems that stop birds settling. Larger open areas such as courtyards, loading bays and light wells get bird netting fixed to a frame so birds cannot get in at all. Gaps under solar panels and roof tiles are closed with mesh or panel skirting so pigeons cannot nest underneath. Old nests and droppings are removed first, and if bird mites are present we treat the area as well.
- Site survey
We look at where the birds roost, nest and enter, and which surfaces need protecting.
- Proposal
We recommend the right mix of netting, spikes, wire or mesh for each spot and explain why.
- Clean-out
Nests, droppings and debris are removed safely before anything is fitted.
- Install proofing
Netting, spikes, wire or mesh is fixed so it is neat and secure against the south-easter.
- Mite treatment and report
If bird mites are present we treat the area, and you get a written report.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
- Fit mesh skirting around new solar panels at installation, before birds discover the gap.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
How much will it cost?
The cost depends on how many areas need proofing, how high they are and how much access equipment is needed. Netting a large courtyard or a warehouse roof is a bigger job than spiking a few ledges. Clean-out of heavy droppings and any mite treatment are included in the free quote once we have done the site survey.
Pigeons breed throughout the year in Cape Town, so proofing is a year-round job. We see a rush in late winter and spring when birds start nesting heavily, and again before the winter rains when people find their gutters blocked.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do regular cockroach control for my Voortrekker Road takeaway?
Yes. We can set up a regular service with after-hours visits on request, and a post-treatment report after each visit.
Do you come out to Goodwood for bird proofing?
Yes. Goodwood is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Parow, Elsies River, Epping, Thornton. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Will netting be visible?
Bird netting is fine and usually black or clear, so from the ground it is hard to see once it is fitted.
Why do I hear scratching in my Goodwood ceiling at night?
It is usually roof rats or mice, which are active at night. Check for droppings in the roof, and send us a photo on WhatsApp so we can confirm what you're dealing with.
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Why am I getting bites after the pigeons left?
That is often bird mites leaving an abandoned nest. They do not live on people, but they bite, and we treat the nest area to stop them.
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