How to keep the birds out of your barn???

Eric C · Mar 22, 2015

I have a pole barn. The birds are getting under it and pooping all over my equipment. I have read articles that say to used rubber snakes, owls and CD's on fishing line to keep them out. It is high and I would like to do it once and not be trying new things each week. Wanted input from someone that has had success. Other than a shotgun, what has everyone found to work best? Thanks.

Clay45 · Mar 22, 2015

I tried the owl thing...didn't work. Think I'll try rubber snakes next. My only reluctance is that a real one might be hard to spot if you're not careful about where you place the phony ones.

bcp · Mar 22, 2015

Fasten 1x6 boards here and there on the ceiling joists, with an access path from the ground for your barn cat.

Or Bird Spikes

Bruce

C4Ranch · Mar 22, 2015

For me, I tried snakes and didn't work but the owl seemed to work.

I also took spray foam and filled the cavities where they would build nests.

It's not gonna be a one and Done deal unfortunately.

pohorsky · Mar 22, 2015

We have used the bird spikes and they seem to work and in more public areas or for a temporary solution, tanglefoot.

Wagtail · Mar 22, 2015

Fake owls & snakes don't work as the birds figure out that they don't move & are therefore not a threat. Maybe they send in an 'idiot' bird or the avian equivalent of "hold my beer and watch this!"

Physical deterrents are the only way to keep them from specific places, depending on the breed of bird.

Me, I just tarp things that they could be crapping on... I'd rather have the birds around eating bugs & mozzies.

firemech · Mar 22, 2015

In my boat storage sheds we stretched random monofiliment fishing line in the rafters and hung 12" wide plastic "curtains" on the entrance doors like a freezer warehouse. For the plastic we used 6 mil insulation slit every 12 inches with a utility knofe vapour barrier wrapped around 1x4 strapping. Birds couldn't see the fishing line and kept running into it; the plastic caused them to not realize the door was open and could be driven through. Hope it might help, worked awesome for us.

ovrszd · Mar 22, 2015

I've never heard of a "remedy" working, snakes, owls, whatever. Only thing that will keep birds out of your machine shed is a shed they can't get into. Fortunately my shed doesn't have any place for them to roost that can contaminate my equipment. I've saw sparrows crawl under a rolling door with a 2" gap at the bottom.

kebo · Mar 22, 2015

firemech said:
In my boat storage sheds we stretched random monofiliment fishing line in the rafters and hung 12" wide plastic "curtains" on the entrance doors like a freezer warehouse. For the plastic we used 6 mil insulation slit every 12 inches with a utility knofe vapour barrier wrapped around 1x4 strapping. Birds couldn't see the fishing line and kept running into it; the plastic caused them to not realize the door was open and could be driven through. Hope it might help, worked awesome for us.

Or you could try stringing up some fine cell netting, like what would be used for seining minnows. If you do that, be sure to check it often right after you put it up in case a bird gets caught in it. No sense in one dying over it. Also, in the places where they are resting/roosting/nesting, try attaching objects that make it hard for them nest or sit there, like maybe some tubing or something that gives an irregular surface. Good luck.