Lavender Hill is a close-knit area of council flats and family homes between Retreat, Steenberg and Grassy Park. Many people live in a small space here, so we focus on treatments that are safe around children and that a whole block can do together.
Lavender Hill: what drives birds here
Pigeons roost on flat roofs, ledges and in stairwells, and their droppings carry mites. Netting off stairwell openings helps keep them out.
Most homes are in three-storey council flats and maisonettes, with free-standing houses and backyard structures in between. Flats share stairwells, roof spaces and service ducts, so cockroaches and rodents travel between units easily. Ground-floor flats near bin areas tend to take the brunt of rat activity.
Worth knowing
When we survey a building, the first thing we look for is where the droppings land. That tells us the roost spot, which is often not where the owner thinks it is.
Bird mites are the hidden side of nesting birds. When the chicks fledge, the mites go looking for a meal and sometimes find the people inside.
How to tell you have a problem
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Twigs, grass and feathers sticking out from under roof tiles or panels.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- 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.
Pigeon droppings are acidic, mark paintwork and roofing, and become slippery underfoot on walkways. Accumulated droppings and old nests can carry fungi and bacteria, and cleaning them up dry raises dust you do not want to breathe. Nests block gutters and cause water damage when winter rains back up into the roof. When birds leave a nest, their bird mites often wander indoors looking for a new host, which leads to itchy bites.
Our process, step by step
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird proofing service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep refuse bins closed and clean up spilt food around outdoor eating areas.
- Close off broken air vents, missing tiles and open eaves as soon as you notice them.
- Clean gutters before winter, and check for nesting material at the same time.
- Do not feed pigeons near your home or business. A reliable food source keeps them coming back.
- Deal with the first nest quickly. Pigeons that breed on a site get attached to it.
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.
Questions we get asked in Lavender Hill
Do bird spikes hurt the birds?
No. The spikes are blunt and simply stop birds from landing comfortably. They move somewhere else.
Do you come out to Lavender Hill for bird proofing?
Yes. Lavender Hill is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Retreat, Steenberg, Grassy Park, Lotus River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Can you do commercial buildings?
Yes, a lot of our bird proofing is shops, warehouses and blocks of flats where droppings affect staff and customers.
Are your treatments safe in a small flat with children?
We use the least-toxic effective option first and tell you exactly how long to keep children and pets out of treated areas. Most treatments are odourless and you can go back in the same day.
Can you treat just my flat if the neighbours have cockroaches too?
We can, and it will help, but cockroaches will come back through the shared walls and ducts. Treating the neighbouring flats at the same time gives much longer-lasting results.
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