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Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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Posted by
noamsmom Israel (
My Page) on
Wed, Sep 27, 06 at 2:55
| Until recently, we had a pretty serious pigeon problem at our house - the pigeons were using certain spots on the house as a public latrine. Now that we've finally (well, almost finally) ridded ourselves of the pigeons, we're left with large piles of...er, pigeon guano.
I know some people use chicken droppings as fertilizer, but has anyone had luck with using pigeon droppings?
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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I wouldn't recommend that at all. These birds can cause serious health problems. Never enter an attic full of droppings without protection: Full of bacteria and ticks.
Over here they are a pest, we call them 'flying rats'.
Their worst enemy is the raven: If you don't have a real one, a plastic bird will do. But it has to be in original size and look real, otherwise they won't be fooled.
Also: Try to get raven 'noise' on tape and play it several times a day.
Get rid of the droppings, but protect yourself.
Rose |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| NO, NO and NO!! Pigeons are no more than rats with wings. They are known carriers of 26 human diseases, including hepatitis. We had a problem at work during construction and they got inside the building. The poop had to be handled as hazardous material. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| Didnt you watch House ?. They had a guy die because he was using pigeon crap to fertilize his plants. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I have homeing pigons rolling pigeons that I take good care of. I recently read that the old egyptians use to use thier pet pigeon droppings as fertilizer. I use my pigeons poop as fertilizer on my garden and it works better than anything i have tried. I agree and think useing wild pigeon poop would be a hazzard. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I grew up with parakeets and while their droppings were small, I bet they'd make great fertilizer. I agree wild pigeons are another story, but I would guess droppings from any pet bird would work a treat! Also great in compost! |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| You people are rather wrong. I work near a pigeon breeding facility (they race them). I take their poo and mix it in our compost (leaves and grass clippings) every fall. I have done so for 10 years. I must say that I have the healthiest garden and children in the suburbs. I did research on the desease factor and found nothing of consequence. 26 Human deseases? There is a gaurd against most deseases passing from one species to another. It is quite rare. All this said, these pigeons are kept in a loft and do not forage in the wild. My garden rocks because of this! |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I am a veterinarian and can tell you that wild pigeons can carry zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be passed from animals to people), including serious ones such as Prototheca (a type of infectious algae for which there is no current effective treatment). I would look for fertilizer sources elsewhere. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| Health risks from pigeon poop are often exaggerated. I have collected about a dozen 60 litre garbage bins full of pigeon poop annually from suburban "wild" nesting sites under bridges etc and used it on the vegetable and fruit garden for the past several years. It is great fertilizer and have had no ill health effects. Pigeons have historically been kept in the Middle East for the fertilizer they produce. The diseases are mainly ones caused from fungus or bacteria that are found in soils anyway. Driving your car is far more hazardous. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I've done it and it works. I don't breathe the dust. What about the seabird droppings?? I've seen them sold in bags on ebay. |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I am amazed at the ignorance people has about pigeons. I was born in Egypt and lived there until age 16. My mother raised pigeon. She had over 100 pairs in pigeon coups. Pigeon meat is the sweetest meat I have ever tasted. The coups were cleaned and those dropping was used to fertilize my father water melon fields. The best melon taste is the one fertilized with pigeon droppings. The wholesale merchants used to fight to buy my father watermelons and he was paid handsomely for his watermelon. He won so many Blue ripens for his melon. Once he entered a contest with one 100 pound watermelon and won the first prize and a letter of congratulation from the county commishner. I don't know about wild pigeon but demosticated pigeon is safer than chicken. I wish I can find a pigeon farmer to sell me some dropping for my watermelon. I used chicken droping as a fertilizer too. If you do make sure it at least 6 vinches from the roots |
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| Given that pigeons have been popular pets for many long years, with owners flying and racing them in many countries, it's hard to imagine that they would be a particularly dangerous animal to deal with. People keep whole flocks of them in cages on roofs and in sheds without dying. Here's a link to a New York City public health department below. There is a risk, but it' low. The particular warning is for people with compromised immune systems, which always makes sense. |
Here is a link that might be useful: risk of disease from pigeons.
RE: Pigeon droppings as fertilizer?
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| I keep pigeons and their poop goes in to my compost pile every time I clean the coop...same for my chickens |
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