Birds nesting on your property can be a bigger problem than many folks realize but did you hear that there are essential oils to keep birds from building nests?
Although it’s nice to hear birds singing during the day, they can become very bothersome and a costly nuisance.
In addition to causing damage to your property, birds can also foul things with their droppings and pose a threat to your garden.
Fortunately, you don’t have to resort to mean or cruel methods to rid yourself of birds and their nests.
Natural essential oils, as mentioned, can be used to chase away birds and make them never want to return to your property again.
I am using a variety of different oils for my garden and it is working wonders.
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Essential Oils That Prevent Birds From Nesting
There are several essential oils that will prevent birds from nesting on your property. Peppermint oil, lemon oil, and garlic oil are some of the most effective options to choose from. You may also discourage birds with natural chemicals like vinegar and cayenne pepper.
Why Should You Worry About Bird Nests?
Birds like pigeons and seagulls come with a variety of problems when they’re left to act as they please on your property.
If their rowdiness and poop aren’t enough reason for you to chase them off and prevent them from nesting, I have a few more reasons that might convince you.
Nesting birds use all kinds of things to build their new homes, and that can lead to feathers and these materials like bark strips, twigs, straw, and stones will be left all over the place.
Very importantly, birds can help spread nasty diseases such as salmonella and E. Coli. They carry and encourage the breeding of flees and mites as well.
Essential Oils That Work as Deterrent for Nesting Birds
My list of essential oils is in no particular order, so you can use any of the options that appeal most to you – they work equally well in most cases.
Peppermint Oil
First on the list is peppermint oil, a popular choice because of how readily available it is and how well it works at deterring birds from nesting in gardens.
Birds absolutely dislike the strong smell of peppermint and if they smell it, they’ll head in the opposite direction.
Because it’s a natural oil, you can spray peppermint oil around your garden without worrying about what it could do to your plants.
Lemon Oil
Few things beat the smell of lemons — they remind me of crisp, freshly-washed linen. In addition to smelling wonderful, they also repel birds.
Again, this is because birds just don’t like the smell; they can’t handle it.
You can dilute your lemon oil with some water and spray it everywhere the birds like to hang around.
Take notice that this might not work for all birds, so keep an eye on which birds are stubborn and use one of the other oils or ingredients on my list.
Garlic Oil
Garlic oil is highly effective in chasing off birds and is even used by farmers who need to protect their crops.
The smell of garlic is very off-putting for birds, and you can spray it on plants with no risks involved.
Other Non-essential Oil Options
Although essential oils are the best solution here, there are a handful of other natural ingredients you can use if you don’t have any oils around.
Garlic
If you can’t get your hands on garlic oil, you can simply mix normal garlic with some water. If you want,
you can even mix garlic with water and vinegar for a truly potent repellent. Also, you can leave garlic cloves in the areas where you notice the most birds.
Cayenne Pepper
Another smell that birds definitely hate is that of cayenne pepper.
This spice irritates the olfactory glands of birds, making them want to leave as soon as they catch a whiff.
Mix a lot of cayenne pepper with water and spray it around your garden, on your walls, and on your fences.
You may want to avoid spraying the cayenne pepper on your plants though, as this can lead to adverse effects in some cases.
Vinegar
Another popular way to keep birds from building nests is to chase them off with pure vinegar.
The smell is overwhelming and will irritate and annoy the birds enough to make them want to find another place to make their home.
Spray your pure vinegar on all the areas where you think the birds could make their nests. Just don’t spray the vinegar directly on any of your plants.
Chili
Another potent-smelling natural bird deterrent is chili. You can buy it in many different forms, such as powder and chili salt, and all of them should work equally well.
Apply the chili wherever you notice the most birds or any areas where they could potentially try to build nests.
Chili won’t have any negative effects on your plants, so you don’t have to worry about avoiding sprinkling it in your garden.
Bird Gel
If you’re not having enough luck with the natural solutions, or you want to try an over-the-counter product, bird gel is a good option.
Bird gel is sticky and has a smell that offends birds, ideal for chasing them off.
Mothballs
Last but not least on my list is a chemical solution. Mothballs do a great job at repelling birds and keeping them from making nests.
Put a few mothballs in selected areas in your garden and property and you’ll soon see fewer and fewer birds hanging around.
Applying Essential Oils as a Bird Deterrent
To apply these essential oils to your property, identify all the areas where the birds tend to spend most of their time.
Apply the oils topically by using cotton balls or rags that you soaked with a few drops of your chosen flavor.
Spray the area with a mixture of diluted essential oil. It’s a good idea to experiment with the concentration of the oils until you find what works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About essential oils to keep birds from building nests
How Do You Discourage Birds From Building a Nest?
You can add small mirrors to your property —
the reflections can fool them into thinking there are already birds making the place their own and the light that reflects bothers their eyes.
Reflective wind chimes and mylar strips are also good ideas.
What Home Remedy Keeps Birds Away?
Aside from utilizing essential oils, you can also use baking soda to deter birds. Sprinkle some in the areas they frequent and you’ll notice them disappear.
Birds don’t like how baking soda feels under their toes and won’t be comfortable if it’s sprinkled where they want to walk.
What Keeps Birds Away From Your Porch?
There are several ways to keep birds from making your porch their hangout spot. You can hang small mirrors, pie plates, CDs, and foil around.
These items reflect the sun, and birds generally don’t like that. Wind chimes can also chase them off.
Keep Your Property Free of Bird Nests With These Essential Oils
Now you know that using natural ingredients like peppermint or lemon oil will keep your property free of messy and noisy birds, you’ll return peace to your garden and home.
You don’t have to be cruel to birds when you’ve got these essential oils to keep birds from building nests and multiplying on your property.