How to get birds out of the attic

If you have birds that have gotten into your attic, then you know that you have a real serious issue. Most of us think of birds as these tiny little creatures that are adorable and can fly. That may be true, but they can also be quite destructive, especially when they are in large numbers. 

The problems that you encounter with birds are that they are quite destructive and messy. They will tear up whatever is available to them to make a nest and they will drop their feces anywhere. It does not matter to them that there is feces all over the floor and your insulation. They simply do not care.

What makes the situation even worse is that the feces often contain large numbers of parasites and diseases that can be a serious problem for you. These parasites pose a risk to you, your family, and your pets. The diseases that they carry can fester in your home, getting inside the air vents and the walls eventually, which will really pose a danger to your family. You simply cannot have these creatures in your house. 

You want to do all you can to get rid of these animals as quickly as you can, but you also want to find an alternative that makes sense. Many would consider poison to be a great option, and it is true that it is a permanent one. A little bird seed in the attic that is laced with poison and your birds will be dead in no time. This may be a great alternative when there are just two or three there, but if you have dozens in your attic then this simply makes no sense. Do you really want to be cleaning up dead birds all over? The answer is probably no.

If you want to be more humane about it, you can look at the option of employing a trap or a set of traps. This can be a highly effective choice, but numbers can be the biggest issue in this. You don't want to be constantly taking cages out of the attic that are filled with birds. If there are a large number of them in the attic then this is what you will be doing. This may become a lot more work than it is worth, and you may find that other birds will simply replace them. Plus, you have to transport them to some place where the ones you have trapped cannot get back into your home. This will just become a viscous circle. 

You can call a professional to come and do the job for you. You know that they will do a great job of resolving your issue for you, but if there are a large number of birds that are in your attic the cost for their services may be quite expensive. This may not work within your budget. With this in mind, the best solution will be to look at a one-way funnel. These devices are absolutely perfect at getting the birds out of your home without having to put in a whole lot of effort. To use this device it is quite simple.

First, look for all the areas around your home where the birds are coming in and out of your attic. If you find a location, don't stop looking. There can easily be more than one location where they are gaining access. Look for loose boards, cracks, crevices or holes that may have been created by the rain or by the birds themselves. 

If you find that there is more than one location where they are gaining access then you will need to seal all but one of those locations. This will make it easier to keep them from getting back into the home when you have scared them out. Try to make sure you close the locations that seem like they are the least used. Make sure you seal with a heavy caulk and put steel wool inside the caulk. This will keep the birds from digging back into the caulk to try to get back inside the house. Now, on the one spot where you have left the opening, attach the one-way funnel to the outside of your home. Make sure that it is tightly placed against the house. 

Now it is time to implement your plan. You will want to put some speakers in the attic while it is still dark outside. Most birds come out in the day, so they are sleeping when it is dark. Very carefully put the speakers in the attic so you do not disturb the birds. That last thing you want is for them to get into your home through the panel you are using to get into the attic yourself. 

When it starts to hit dawn, crank on the speakers as loud as you can. This will startle the birds and they will scurry to try to get away. The way the funnel is designed once the birds get out through it they cannot get in. That is why it is considered one-way. This will not allow them to get back in. Once you have them all out, then go outside, and take off the funnel. Make sure you seal the opening so that they cannot get back in using the same techniques you employed to close other openings. Now it is time for the cleanup.




Also read our other bird tip: How to get pigeons out of the attic