How to Use Anti-Freeze to Kill Pigeons? (2024)

How to Use Anti-freeze to Kill Pigeons-template

Pigeons are common birds that can make a nest anywhere. But they can also cause considerable damage to properties in the process of doing so. Some people may use anti-freeze to kill pigeons.

And they find that it’s pretty easy to do so too. All they need to do is soak bread or corn in anti-freeze and scatter it where the pigeons come to eat.

It is also possible to add anti-freeze to a water reservoir. However, we do not recommend using anti-freeze to kill wildlife. If you have a problem with pigeons, consider calling animal control or pest control.

Read below as we compare the different methods of getting rid of pigeons.

Before you scroll further down this guide, check out these other bird-related articles: Are Ducks Birds? and Can Birds Have Down Syndrome?.

Table of Contents

Will Pigeons Drink Antifreeze?

If pigeons swallow ethylene glycol in its concentrated form, it can be fatal for them because it contains harmful compounds.

Antifreeze is another name for ethylene glycol. However, if it is mixed with water, even in trace amounts, pigeons will drink it thinking it is water.

Using alternate, non-toxic approaches for pigeon control must be the main priority to minimize the accidental poisoning of animals and pets.

Humane and safer alternatives to poisoning include pigeon trapping and relocation, as well as bird repellents. You can repel birds using the same methods gardeners use. Read more about it in this article from the University of Massachusetts.

Do Birds Like Antifreeze?

Antifreeze does indeed entice pigeons and other birds.

Ethylene Glycol, which can be written as CH2OH2, is the primary component. This component smells and tastes great.

Animals such as mice, chipmunks, rats, squirrels, cats, dogs, and birds such as starlings and pigeons are drawn to this.

The pigeon eats it right then and then. The poison’s effect sets in within seconds.

How to Kill Pigeons with Antifreeze

Following are some ways you can kill pigeons using antifreeze.

Mix in Water Reservoir

Because pigeons cannot tell the difference between clean and polluted water, it is possible to poison them by introducing antifreeze as bait in a water reservoir intended for human consumption.

This kind of pigeon control is inhumane because it affects not only the pigeons but also any other wildlife that might drink from the contaminated reservoir.

As a result, this approach cannot be recommended as an effective method of pigeon management.

Corn Soaked in Antifreeze

Pigeons will inevitably die if they consume corn doused in ethylene glycol and then consumed by pigeons; by this point, the poison will have become a part of their diet.

Pigeons are enticed to the feeding area by the smell of corn that has been scattered there, and once they get there, they consume it.

This is a great strategy for mass pigeon extermination. Antifreeze is also useful for soaking other types of grains, such as barley or wheat.

Bread Soaked in Antifreeze

When humans give bread to pigeons and other birds, they split it into smaller pieces. Antifreeze soaks into the same slice of bread as thoroughly as water.

Distributing the little bits of bread on a roof or near pigeon nests poisons the birds and causes them to suffocate to death.

The antifreeze has an effect on the pigeons by acting directly on their neurological systems.

It causes constriction in the airways, making the pigeon feel as though it is suffocating.

In addition, chemical absorption occurs in the digestive tract, ultimately resulting in renal failure.

How Quickly Does Antifreeze Kill Birds?

Antifreeze is extremely poisonous to birds, even at low doses.

In its most basic form, antifreeze is a liquid that serves the purpose of keeping the engines of motor vehicles at the appropriate temperature.

It helps maintain the normal temperature inside your vehicle.

Antifreeze is highly toxic to pigeons and will kill them if it is either directly administered to them or if they consume it in any other way.

It will instantly start a chain of reactions within the body of a pigeon, ultimately leading to the pigeon’s demise in a matter of minutes due to the effects of the chain reactions.

Other Ways to Kill Pigeons

When getting rid of pigeons, resorting to lethal measures should be the last option.

However, depending on the circumstances, it may be important to get rid of them to prevent significant harm to your home.

The following is a list of methods that can be used to kill pigeons, along with an explanation of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each one.

Shooting

Pigeon control can be accomplished using the time-honored and tried-and-tested method of shooting the birds.

It’s best to try this at night when they’re sleeping and less likely to see you.

This job can be done with an air rifle, but you will need excellent marksmanship to be successful.

The biggest problem is that even if you hit the pigeon dead on, it might still be able to fly for a little while. This is cruel because the bird will suffer greatly.

In most metropolitan areas, shooting is prohibited by law; hence, the activity is almost exclusively confined to rural settings.

Poisoning

It is possible to kill pigeons using poisons, but the legality of doing so varies greatly from state to state; in certain places, a specific permit is even required.

In most cases, poisoned bait such as rat poison is utilized, but even when this is used, the bird that has ingested the poison may not pass away right away.

Instead, the bird may fly to a concealed location where it will die, which can result in significant odor issues.

If another animal, such as a pet, consumes the carcass, that animal, too, will get poisoned.

Numerous pigeon-killing poisons are on the market, but it’s important to be aware of any potential consequences, such as harm to other creatures.

Trapping

Pigeons can be eradicated by lethal trapping methods, with cages being the most prevalent type of trap.

The mechanism in the trap either constricts or snaps the bird, which results in its death as promptly and humanely as possible.

However, this technique requires caution, as an inadvertent application could result in bodily harm.

The pigeons may quickly figure out how to dodge the traps, reducing their effectiveness.

Live traps are an alternative to lethal traps since they capture the birds while alive.

However, once the birds are captured, they must be instantly killed using quick, lethal means.

Which Liquid Kills Pigeons?

Swallowing or inhaling liquid toxins like thallium is an effective way to kill pigeons.

This odorless toxin is simple to introduce into water supplies or feed because of its versatility.

When pigeons ingest thallium, it causes them to become sick, vomit, and suffer excruciating pain until they eventually die.

Liquid poisons like antifreeze are another option for controlling pigeon numbers.

Pigeons are particularly susceptible to this toxin because, like thallium, it affects the neurological system, triggering convulsions and involuntary muscle movements.

The pigeon will die from the fatal effects.

Using liquid toxins as a means of pigeon control requires an in-depth familiarity with their toxicity and potential for harm.

Because of the potential for poisoning unintended species, there has been pushback from wildlife agencies and rehabilitators.

Furthermore, pigeons should be trapped and relocated first because doing so is less likely to cause harm to other species.

The Dangers of Using Pigeon Poison

We sympathize with your anger toward pigeons and the harm they may have caused to your property, but we urge you to refrain from using poisons.

Poisoning pigeons is an inhumane and terrible practice. These poisons are nerve agents, so they first cause the birds to convulse, leading to an extremely painful death.

Finding humane and efficient means of pigeon population management is our collective responsibility.

In addition, pigeon poisons don’t work. Even if you wipe out a significant percentage of pigeons, the survivors will quickly replenish the population.

This vicious cycle of killing has little discernible long-term effect, making it an inhumane and inefficient means of reducing the pigeon population.

While poisoning pigeons with nerve agents is terrible in and of itself, there is also no method to target only pigeons without also killing other species.

The toxin could also kill pigeons in nearby places, which would be a terrible waste of resources.

Removing food sources and blocking off convenient nesting areas are two of the more effective measures we suggest taking to reduce the pigeon population.

In addition, several options for pigeon deterrents are both effective and kind to the birds.

Using these alternatives, rather than poisons, is preferable since it solves the pigeon problem more humanely and permanently.