What Smell Do Birds Hate? 4 Homemade Repellent Ideas (2023)

If you’re looking to keep birds away, consider taking advantage of the smells birds hate. With this knowledge, you can create homemade bird repellents or keep these products around your home in an attempt to scare birds off. To begin planning your bird deterrent process, consider what smells birds dislike most.

What Smells Do Birds Hate?

Certain natural products produce an aroma that repels birds for different reasons. If you already have these products at home, consider using them to keep birds away. If you don’t already own some of these, they are easy to find and implement as a bird deterrent method. Some smells birds hate include:

(Video) Smells That Repel Birds - Top Repellents

  • Essential oils. These scents are overpowering to birds, especially peppermint oil. The strong smell of peppermint is enough to repel birds on its own.
  • Peppers. With most peppers being spicy, their smell often creates a burning sensation. Specific types of pepper that can deter birds include chili peppers and cayenne pepper.
  • Garlic. Birds avoid garlic because it contains allicin, along with its strong, natural odor.
  • Cinnamon. The aromatic scent of cinnamon is irritating to most birds.
  • Vinegar. Birds can be triggered by the harsh, unpleasant smell of vinegar and will avoid it.
  • Citrus oil. Birds tend to avoid the smell of citrus because they don’t like it. However, if you plan to use citrus oil as a deterrent – it must make direct contact with the bird in order to be effective.

Related: How To Keep Birds Out Of Hanging Plants

How To Make Homemade Bird Repellent

Choose from the above scents as a base for your homemade bird repellent. Any of these scents can be the main ingredient to create a spray that will repel birds. Using these scents, you can mix water, apple cider vinegar, or liquid dish soap. Some recipes to try are:

(Video) What Smells Repel Birds?

Peppermint Oil Spray

  • 14 drops of peppermint oil
  • 14 drops of lemon oil
  • ½ cup of white vinegar
  • ½ cup of water

Cayenne Pepper Spray

  • 6 drops of liquid dish soap
  • 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper
  • 1 gallon of water

Garlic Spray

  • 8 cloves of garlic
  • 2 cups of olive oil

Cinnamon Spray

  • 3 parts water
  • 1 part cinnamon

Are Homemade Repellents Effective?

When creating bird repellent at home, it is crucial to not harm the birds. You must use products that are non-toxic and safe to use. Especially if you plan to spray areas that include plants, you don’t want to contaminate your own produce.

Dealing with bird repellent requires a plan. In order to repel birds from your property, you need to be aware of the legal actions in place to protect birds. Most species of birds are protected by law depending on location. Before taking action to disrupt birds in your area, research your local regulations.

(Video) Homemade Bird Repellents to Keep Birds Away (That Works 100%) - Top Repellents

Related: Do Homemade Bird Repellents Really Work?

What Is Liquid Bird Repellent?

To eliminate the stress of creating your own repellent, consider purchasing liquid bird repellent. These pre-made mixtures are non-toxic and safe to use around birds, plants, animals, and humans. Professionals have mastered the ingredients of this product to create lasting results so you don’t have to use trial and error with homemade repellents.

(Video) Neighbors Thought Woman Was Crazy For Putting Irish Spring Soap In Her Yard Until They Found Out Why

Related: Best Practices For Effective Bird Pest Control

How Avian Can Help

At Avian, we offer liquid bird repellent methods that are EPA registered and non-toxic. This allows our product to be safe to use around you, your family, your plants, animals, and more. It is important to us to help you deter birds without causing them harm.

(Video) Your neighbor’s cats will be gone just like that with this trick!

Our liquid bird repellent has proven results that last up to two weeks. Eliminate the stress of guessing which at home products can repel birds and trust Avian Control to get the job done. Call 888.868.1982 to order or contact us for more information today!

What Smells Do Birds Hate? Top Tips To Humanely Get Rid Of Birds

(Video) 7 Smart Ways To Get Rid of Pigeons

FAQs

What Smell Do Birds Hate? 4 Homemade Repellent Ideas? ›

Primarily, birds dislike really strong smells because they find them quite irritating. These include peppermint oil, citronella, lemon, cayenne pepper, chili, garlic and vinegar.

What smells do birds hate the most? ›

What Smells Do Birds Hate?
  • Essential oils. These scents are overpowering to birds, especially peppermint oil. ...
  • Peppers. With most peppers being spicy, their smell often creates a burning sensation. ...
  • Garlic. Birds avoid garlic because it contains allicin, along with its strong, natural odor.
  • Cinnamon. ...
  • Vinegar. ...
  • Citrus oil.
Dec 15, 2022

What can you spray on your porch to keep birds off? ›

To create a solution of baking soda and water, mix 5 spoonfuls of baking soda into a glass of water. Pour this solution into a bottle with a spray head and shake well before spraying on porch banisters, etc.

Does baking soda deter birds? ›

If pigeons and other nuisance birds are invading your patio space or window sills, try sprinkling baking soda anywhere they like to perch. Birds don't like the feel of the baking soda under their toes and will avoid it at all costs. You can also use double-sided duct tape instead of the baking soda.

Will spraying vinegar keep birds away? ›

Vinegar has a harsh, unpleasant scent that can irritate a bird's sense of smell. It is also a humane way to repel birds from areas around your home.

What really scares birds away? ›

Things to scare birds away

Flags that move in the wind are the cheapest, most effective ways to scare birds. Predator statues such as lifelike scarecrows, owls, coyotes, snakes or cats that can be moved around every few days. Shiny objects such as old CDs, foil pans or silver reflective tape.

How can I stop birds from pooping on my patio? ›

Keep Birds Away From Your Patio, Deck, or Balcony with These Simple Tips
  1. Clean your deck regularly, especially if it is made of wood. ...
  2. Restore or seal your deck every few years. ...
  3. Install bird netting. ...
  4. Install a bird deterrent system. ...
  5. Hang a wind chime on your deck or patio to scare birds away. ...
  6. Place a fake owl in your yard.
Feb 15, 2022

Does WD 40 keep birds away? ›

Keep Animals Away

The lubricant also works as a pigeon repellent on balconies and roofs, because the birds hate its smell.

What does bleach do to birds? ›

Several disinfectants safe for birds are commercially available. One cup of household chlorine bleach in one gallon of water is effective against many disease-causing organisms – but must be used with caution as the fumes can be toxic to birds.

Is hydrogen peroxide toxic to birds? ›

Hydrogen peroxide is considered to be generally safe for birds. When dissolved in bath water, hydrogen peroxide has no effect, even when a bird encounters it. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide applied on the cage or within the cage is a safe cleaning option.

Will Vaseline keep birds away? ›

The Vaseline can cover a bird's feathers, preventing it from flying. The feathers also protect birds from the elements. Birds can also ingest the Vaseline, making them sick. The Center for Wildlife said the woodpecker is in guarded condition in a post on its Facebook page.

What is 4 the bird repellent? ›

4 The Birds Liquid Bird Repellent is a sticky liquid repellent used to deter Starlings from landing on interior surfaces and outside vegetation. 4 The Birds bird repellent is a transparent sticky gel used to deter pigeons and starlings from landing on surfaces.

Will Irish Spring soap repel birds? ›

Yes, Irish Spring soap can keep birds away as well as other animals and pests.

What is the best essential oil to repel birds? ›

A blend of peppermint oil and citronella is proven to emit a smell that is offensive to birds but quite pleasant to humans.

Do mothballs get rid of birds? ›

Mothballs are a common home remedy to keep birds from nesting on ledges, in eaves, or on porches. The strong smell of mothballs is offensive to birds and will deter them from nesting in the area.

What does apple cider vinegar do to birds? ›

ACV can prevent the growth of bacteria and mold; therefore, adding it to your bird's fresh foods as a nutritional supplement has an additional purpose. The acid content of ACV will help reduce the chance of bacterial or fungal growth on fresh foods during the period they are in your bird's food bowl.

How do you get rid of birds naturally? ›

5 Home Remedies to Keep Birds Away
  1. Shiny Objects. Shiny, reflective objects make great deterrents for problematic birds. ...
  2. Predators. Birds have many natural predators including cats, owls, and larger birds of prey. ...
  3. Garden Balls. ...
  4. Bird Spikes. ...
  5. Repellent Sprays.
Jan 10, 2020

What colors are birds afraid of? ›

The One Color to Avoid

While no color will specifically discourage birds from your yard, having too much white could keep a few birds away. "This probably stems from the stark contrast between white and the surrounding environment," explains Mulvihill.

How do I get rid of a bird nest on my porch? ›

Spray the nest with an antibacterial spray. Once dry, remove the nest and dispose of it in a securely sealed container or exterior trash bag. Dispose of it in the trash away from the home. Clean the area where the nest was with a strong disinfectant.

How do I keep birds from pecking in my house? ›

Homeowners have reported some success deterring woodpeckers with windsocks, pinwheels, helium balloons (shiny, bright Mylar balloons are especially effective), strips of aluminum foil, or reflective tape.

How do I keep birds from pooping on my porch rails? ›

Make Use of Hanging Mirrors, Pinwheels, or Shiny Moving Objects. Birds do not enjoy fast-moving colors and light. Hanging small mirrors or pinwheels not only acts as an attractive decoration, but they are great discouraging flocks from gathering.

Is bird poop good for your yard? ›

Believe it or not, bird poop is a great additive to any fertilizer or compost. The phosphorus in the droppings and other nutrients makes it highly beneficial to your garden, especially for green vegetables. Make sure it is covered with compost to avoid the risk of airborne contamination.

What stops birds from pooping on poolside? ›

Use visual deterrent

Visual deterrents scare birds and keep them from landing in your pool area. Some examples are shiny objects, prey decoys, scarecrows, and spikey pool covers.

Do they make a bird repellent? ›

Bird B Gone offers a number of highly effective and humane liquid bird repellent sprays designed to drive birds away and stave off the many problems caused by nuisance birds. Our non-toxic, easy-to-use bird repellents help resolve all different types of bird control issues.

What is the best tape for bird scare? ›

Irri-Tape bothers all of a bird's senses. As a visual scare, birds are scared by the material's sheen, as the light causes constantly changing 3-D colors and images. As a sound scare, birds are rattled by the noise Irri-tape makes as it blows in the breeze.

Where do fake owls scare birds? ›

Fake owl decoys are normally mounted on roof areas where the product can be clearly seen by problem birds as they approach their roosting or perching areas. Replica plastic owls are also often sited in key and sensitive areas on buildings where pigeons are causing specific problems.

Does vinegar affect birds? ›

No, you should not spray your bird with vinegar. While vinegar is a popular ingredient in many cleaning products, it is dangerous for birds and can cause skin irritations and eye damage. Vinegar is acidic, so if your bird were to come into contact with it, it could cause internal organ damage and difficulty breathing.

Do birds like the smell of WD-40? ›

No bird, pigeons included, tolerates the smell of WD-40.

Is Lysol spray safe for birds? ›

Aerosols / Sprays: Mosquito sprays, cleaning sprays, Lysol, etc. should not be sprayed while your bird is present in the room. They are toxic when inhaled by the bird and will lead to health problems or even death. Also, do not use cleaners/ chemicals on items the bird might chew.

What chemical kills birds? ›

It's especially lethal for birds. Whereas the pesticide DDT, banned in the 1970s after driving Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Brown Pelicans to near extinction, works its way up the food chain gradually, like a progressive disease, carbofuran's effect is instantaneous.

What toxin kills birds? ›

Avicides like Avitrol are acutely toxic and cause birds and other animals to suffer immensely.

Is the smell of bleach bad for birds? ›

Many common disinfectants and household cleaning agents release fumes that can be toxic or fatal to birds. Chlorine bleach, phenols and ammonia can all have dangerous vapors that can cause irritation, toxicosis and even death in pet birds.

How much hydrogen peroxide do I put in a bird bath? ›

Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide to one part water. Just like the vinegar method, soak the basin with hydrogen peroxide mixture, scrub thoroughly, and rinse thoroughly afterward.

Will a little bleach in fountain harm birds? ›

' Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love, seconds this opinion: 'You should never use bleach on a water feature. For a fountain, it can damage the pump. For a pond or anywhere that wildlife can reach, you could potentially harm or even kill fish, birds, amphibians, etc.

Does salt get rid of birds? ›

The truth is, despite widely circulated reports that salt will kill or harm wild birds, we really do not know for sure what, if any affect, salt has on them. Contrary to some of those widely circulated reports, anecdotal evidence suggests more than likely that salt does not pose a health risk for birds.

Does Crisco hurt squirrels? ›

NO! Please NEVER use oily or greasy products! Squirrels are “professional climbers”!

What can I spray my birds with? ›

Use plain water that is room temperature and mist the bird all over its body. Be sure not to saturate your bird's feathers; only mist until you can see beads of water accumulate on your pet's body.

What smells are birds sensitive to? ›

What is this? Primarily, birds dislike really strong smells because they find them quite irritating. These include peppermint oil, citronella, lemon, cayenne pepper, chili, garlic and vinegar. By using this information, we can apply these strong scents to areas that we want the birds to stay away from.

Do birds hate mothballs? ›

Mothballs are a common home remedy to keep birds from nesting on ledges, in eaves, or on porches. The strong smell of mothballs is offensive to birds and will deter them from nesting in the area.

What does vinegar do to birds? ›

While vinegar is a popular ingredient in many cleaning products, it is dangerous for birds and can cause skin irritations and eye damage. Vinegar is acidic, so if your bird were to come into contact with it, it could cause internal organ damage and difficulty breathing.

Will wind spinners keep birds away? ›

Q: Do wind spinners keep birds away? A: Wind spinners create motion and low noise that birds can notice. This causes them to consider the spinner as a threat and flee. Hence, you can use a wind spinner to keep birds out of your garden or yard.

Will peppermint oil keep birds away? ›

Birds don't have strong lungs and therefor don't like strong scents such as peppermint oil. An easy way to help repel and deter insects, rodents, birds, and wildlife is to create a peppermint oil spray. Mix several drops of peppermint essential oil and water in a small spray bottle.

Does Epsom salt bother birds? ›

Once or twice a month a special bath of one tablespoon of Epsom Salt diluted in one gallon of water should be provided to all types of birds, especially the feeding parents. The Epsom Salt bath can help to neutralize any sourness in the digestive system. Remember birds only have their beaks to do most of their chores.

Why put soap in your yard? ›

It allows us to preserve beneficial insects in the garden. It also means that not every insect will be bothered by soap. Small, soft-bodied insects are the best candidates for management with soapy water. Aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and mites are all good candidates for soapy water sprays.

How do I keep birds from pooping on my patio furniture? ›

Keep Birds Away From Your Patio, Deck, or Balcony with These Simple Tips
  1. Clean your deck regularly, especially if it is made of wood. ...
  2. Restore or seal your deck every few years. ...
  3. Install bird netting. ...
  4. Install a bird deterrent system. ...
  5. Hang a wind chime on your deck or patio to scare birds away. ...
  6. Place a fake owl in your yard.
Feb 15, 2022

Are smells toxic to birds? ›

Therefore any noxious material in the atmosphere of the home will affect your birds. Cigarette smoke, scented candles, incense burners, open fires, aerosol sprays – all will cause irritation to your birds' lungs and air-sacs, and chronic exposure can result in permanent damage.

What color are birds most sensitive to? ›

Humans have three types of color-sensitive cones in their eyes—attuned to red, green and blue light—but birds have a fourth type, sensitive to ultraviolet light.

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