Ottery is half residential, half working area, with factories and workshops along Ottery Road and family homes in the streets around them. Rodents from the industrial side and ants from sandy gardens keep us busy here.
Ottery: what drives birds here
Pigeons roost on factory roofs and in roof gaps. Netting and spikes protect loading areas and roofs.
Homes are mostly freestanding brick houses with tiled or iron roofs and small gardens, plus townhouses and a few flats. The industrial strip has warehouses, workshops and storage yards with roller doors and open bin areas. Rodents move between yards and homes, especially where properties back onto industrial land. Backyard rooms and garages are common hiding places.
Ottery is on flat Cape Flats sand that warms quickly in summer and drains well, though low spots pool after heavy winter rain. The vleis and wetlands toward Grassy Park are not far away. Open land and stormwater channels around the edges offer rodent cover.
Rats and mice are the leading problem, followed by ants and German cockroaches. Flies around industrial bins and fleas in homes come up regularly. Stored product pests matter for food businesses.
How to tell you have a problem
- Blocked gutters and downpipes full of nesting material.
- Tiny mites crawling on walls or bedding near a nest site.
- Birds regularly perching in the same spots over doorways or walkways.
- Droppings building up on ledges, walls, windowsills or under solar panels.
From the technician
Fake owls and shiny CDs work for about a week. Pigeons are not stupid, and once they realise the owl never moves they sit right next to it.
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.
- 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.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- 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.
What affects the price
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.
A few spikes on a low windowsill is a fine DIY job. Netting and solar panel proofing at height is not, both for safety and because poorly tensioned netting sags, traps birds and ends up looking messy. I would rather do it once and do it properly.
Questions we get asked in Ottery
Why are ants so bad in Ottery in summer?
The sandy soil is perfect for nesting, and dry summers push them indoors for water. Baiting their trails and sealing entry points works best.
Do you come out to Ottery for bird proofing?
Yes. Ottery is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Southfield, Grassy Park, Lansdowne, Plumstead. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
Do you use poison on pigeons?
No. Bird proofing is about physical exclusion, which is safer and lasts longer than trying to kill birds.
Do rats from the Ottery industrial area move into homes?
They can, especially where homes back onto yards or stormwater channels. Sealing gaps and keeping bins closed limits how often they cross over.
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