Stop pigeons nesting under solar panels - 2 methods

Подписаться 6 тыс.

Просмотров 29 тыс.

50% 1

This video shows the bird protection I installed to prevent feral pigeons roosting and nesting under our solar panels. I used 2 different types of bird guard due to the differing construction of our solar panels. This is a DIY installation and I share my costs and where I purchased items from. All items were purchased with my own money, no concessions or discounts.
Clips, spikes and wire netting from www.birdcontro...
Pigeon audio at start of the video from: www.freesounds...
by SPANAC Creative Commons licence creativecommon...
🔴 Octopus Energy £100 (shared) referral link: share.octopus....
🔴 Setup:
4.0kW solar array, installed Sept 2011, 16 x 250w Sanyo HIT-H250E01 panels
3.8kW SMA Sunny Boy inverter
2.34kW solar array, installed Oct 2019, 6 x SunPower Maxeon 3 390w panels
Solis Mini 2kW inverter
Tesla Powerwall 2 (Gateway 1), installed Dec 2018
Tesla Model 3 AWD Performance, delivered 28th Sept 2019
Hyundia Kona SE 64kW, delivered 1st July 2019 - sold Dec 2021
Renault Zoe 22kW, delivered 5th Jan 2022
myenergi eddi, installed July 2019
myenergi zappi v1, installed Dec 2018
myenergi harvi x 2
myenergi hub
myenergi iOS app
Kaifa MA120 SMETS2 smart meter
Based in Rushden, East Midlands, UK
🔴 Subscribe for free RU-vid: www.youtube.co....
✅ Recommended playlists:
Tesla Powerwall 2, solar and EVs
www.youtube.co....
✅ FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: / johntisbury. .
Twitter: / johntisbury

Опубликовано:

4 окт 2024

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 80

@mrkuku1000 Год назад

The stick was funny , it put a smile on my face. I have ordered the clips and the mesh from the company , thanks for the link . And thanks for the video , it will make my life a lot easier after watching it.

@johntisbury Год назад

The clips are very easy to fit and secure too. You can get away without using the sealant if you wanted to, however belt and braces I used both.

@sergiofernandez3725 Год назад

It is very common for wild life to nest and things under Solar panels. The guard or spike or what ever is used is an absolute must. Shame it was not installed with the panels. As with all early adopters, they learn along the journey, Nice video and good job.

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks for watching. Yes there's wins and loses in being early adopters for sure.

@mrpurpleman9698 Год назад

thanks for the in-depth video, surprised the professionals could not do the job properly, It must have been a treat to see them fly off to your neighbor's home where they promptly did the same.

@johntisbury Год назад

Thank you for watching. Agree about the professionals, seems they wanted an easy job. It was rewarding to see them move on elsewhere for sure.

@MrBobitsabc Год назад

I am very impressed you did it yourself. I have had a couple of pigeons for a while under my 2011 fitted panels and shoo them off with my long stick too. However I can see it is getting worse so today I have placed a deposit with British Bird Control who came in with a reasonable quote of £500+.VAT and seem to offer a good product. Unfortunately they can’t come until April 17th so more shooing will be required in the meantime. Just off to check now as it is now 5pm.

@johntisbury Год назад

That will be good to get that done Bob. The long stick as you know does work, but it's constant vigilance! You end up turning into Victor Meldrew! That is a good price and good piece of mind too.

@mrpurpleman9698 Год назад

thanks for mentioning the pricing, at today's rates was worried they were going to say 1K! £500 does not seem to bad but is a tad pricey, how many panels is that for fitting?

@MrBobitsabc Год назад

@@mrpurpleman9698 they did a good job, 2 chaps with just ladders. I have 18 panels.

@mrpurpleman9698 Год назад

@@MrBobitsabc thanks good to hear, has it reduced the pigeons so far?

@MrBobitsabc Год назад

@@mrpurpleman9698 I had two nesting under the panels and they have now gone, and the nest too. I had the panels installed in 2011 but it is only the last couple of years it’s been a problem. Previously I was able to shoo them away but once they had started nesting a few weeks ago they wouldn’t budge. So it’s been done just in time and hopefully no more pigeon pigeon droppings coming off the house roof to clear up.

@EVPuzzle Год назад

That looks like a job well done. You're so lucky being able to access your panels like that especially to clean them. That lichen looks nasty on your neighbour's

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks Nigel, I'm pleased with the results. Yes lichen is a bugger to remove. Neighbours on either side have their own lichen farm going on!

@TheRonskiman Год назад

Nice work, we had our first lot of panels installed in December 2015, and no bird protection, several years later I fitted it myself, I could have really done with those clips you used but couldn't find any at the time.

@johntisbury Год назад

Thank you. I think the clips are a relatively new product line. They do give a nice secure fixing for the spikes especially when it comes to cleaning them when you accidentally drop the head of cleaning brush off the end of the panel!

@paulwammer5054 7 месяцев назад

Superb video. Thanks for taking the time to produce this, it’s very helpful

@johntisbury 7 месяцев назад

Glad it was helpful

@paulwammer5054 7 месяцев назад

@@johntisburyit really was. Seen some large prices to get this done by a company but really reassuring that it can be a DIY task. Also very helpful that you have the name of where you purchased the materials. Thanks again

@nickbea3443 Год назад

These feral pigeons are learning! Had my panels installed recently further along the back from you and I DIY installed mesh just the sides and bottom. They've now learnt to get under from the top but there's no way I'm going on to the ridgeline even with the scaffolding still in place!

@johntisbury Год назад

Hi Nick, ah yes I'd seen the scaffolding and guessed it was for solar panels. It makes perfect sense to install solar with the price of electricity. The pigeons are blighters for sure. Our immediate neighbours on your side have seemly adopted them as they roost / nest under their panels after I misplaced them from under mine. They don't seem too bothered by them. I found it easier to access the ridge line from the front of the house with a ladder and roof ladder to fix mesh along the top. However, you do need a head for heights, but the view across the back is rather spectacular.

@nickbea3443 Год назад

@@johntisbury The side meshes were interesting as the side guard scaffolding isn't as secure as you'd think. I'll try the front approach instead.

@johntisbury Год назад

@@nickbea3443 I tackled my side elevation with ladders, which took a bit longer to do. Shout if you need to borrow ladders as I have a proper roof ladder with ridge hook. Not sure on your roof layout as some houses have very long roof drops so the ladder mayn't be long enough.

@nickbea3443 Год назад

@@johntisbury I've chickened out and got a roofer to finish it off plus do some other work with the scaffolding still up. Thanks for offer though :)

@StrangerThenRedz 25 дней назад

I'm near to a big country park full of all types of birds so got bird control mesh wire installed by the panel installers, they didnt do a great Job and the Pigeons about 2 years later started nesting, it got bad so had to get them done again, hoping it lasts longer this time, I have more wood pigeon's near me which are twice the size of the common pigeon

@johntisbury 25 дней назад

It shows how determined they are. Have you had Wood Pigeons nesting, or just common pigeons under your panels? I didn't think Wood Pigeons would fit under the gap.

@Rog_Ramjet Год назад

I suffered the same problem with my 16 panels fitted in 2011. Pigeons roosting under them (about 20!) with the noise and crap everywhere. I used Enviroguard mesh with the clips as my panels are Sanyo 245 watts per panel and had the lip underneath and the system works a treat remembering to have the guard slightly lower than the panel as a neighbour did not and has an accumulation of detritus. I am fitting a 15kW AlphaEss B3 battery to the garage outside wall as even today I was giving back to the grid 1.5kW not good.

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks Roger, good tip on the height for sure. Battery for the win! Good timing too with more sunshine coming.

@kevinjackson6387 Год назад

Did mine last week with the plastic strip but they have plastic spikes on that you clip to suit ,work a treat they do come back and walking round them lol,bit thick are pigeons

@johntisbury Год назад

They are not blessed with common sense for sure. Good to hear you are now covered.

@glyn1782 Год назад

Excellent John I do hope they don’t fly to me I don’t like heights 👍👍👍

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks Glyn. They do just appear unfortunately. 12 years clear before this flock arrived! Fingers crossed.

@helenalovelock1030 6 месяцев назад

Really annoyed my solar company didn’t suggest them when I had them installed 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

@johntisbury 6 месяцев назад

That is frustrating for sure. I have seen our neighbours all have them retrofitted by chaps just using ladders to access the roof. This week in fact they did one of our neighbour 16 panel array in 40 mins from time of arrival to time of leaving!

@jeremyhildebrandt6023 3 месяца назад

Thats because it hasnt always been a thing. Its something they have just started asking us to do. Before it was an extra done at the request of the homeowner.

@helenalovelock1030 3 месяца назад

@@jeremyhildebrandt6023 I’ve had it done now and sooo happy was well worth it

@serraios1989 Год назад

I didn’t opt for the bird mesh last year when we had the panels installed as there haven’t been any pigeons around here for the five years we lived in this area and the cost was not negligible. I’m having second thoughts now. Great work John! How did you clean the panels?

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks for watching. I'd suggest not doing anything until you see pigeons under your panels as you may never be bothered by them. The cost of the installation is taken up in a big way by the cost of the scaffolding. I'm just about to do a video on how I cleaned the panels, so stay tuned for that.

@mrkuku1000 Год назад

Hi < great video, I am trying to do my panels as you did , however I dont seem to be able to find those clips that you have used , as my panels dont have a lip underneath , can you please let me know where you got them from , Thanks in advance

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks. Here you go; www.birdcontrol.uk.com/shop/product/solar-spike-speed-clip-coming-soon/

@mrkuku1000 Год назад

@@johntisbury Thankyou for the quick reply

@edwardpalmer2521 Год назад

Well done very good job

@johntisbury Год назад

Thanks Edward. Made a difference having a good set of ladders I must say.

@shepherdstar14 9 месяцев назад

I have this problem and it's getting out of hand.....

@johntisbury 9 месяцев назад

I feel your pain. It will only get worse I’m sorry to say.

@dr.bundforah5267 2 месяца назад

I just had a galvanized steel netting installed around my solar panels, but there are about 10 pigeons are still living in my roof. Will they eventually go away?

@johntisbury 2 месяца назад

@@dr.bundforah5267 yes they will eventually leave. It takes a while for them to realise they can’t get back under the panels. They are homing birds and return to the same nesting point.

@nigestephenson282 Год назад

Hi, nice job! Just out of interest, is there a reason you didn't use the spikes all round?

@johntisbury Год назад

Thank you. Spikes are more expensive and more time consuming to fit.

@helenalovelock1030 6 месяцев назад

I have just been quoted £500 by one company and £1500 by another company., I have 9 panels. I can’t do it myself so have to pay someone. Is it definitely worth it ??? I’m single mum and don’t know much about it don’t want to waste money. It’s the wore mesh type stainless still with black upvc coating 10 year guarantee on it and for guarantee on birds not getting back in. One company says they need scaffold and the other says they don’t which is the cheaper company

@johntisbury 6 месяцев назад

Is it worth it really depends on where you live. If you are in a town/village/city then absolutely at some point in the future you will get pigeons nesting under your panels. If you live in the middle of nowhere then you are unlikely to see town pigeons. The big fat Wood Pigeons are too big and don't like to roost with things above their heads, unlike the feral pigeons. We have had our panels up since Sept 2011 and the pigeons only just found them in 2023. We have 5 houses in a row all with solar panels. Once I meshed ours they all moved to our next door neighbours panels. A couple of weeks ago in early March they got their panels meshed as they had 30+ pigeons nesting under there and they were breeding and multiplying at an alarming rate. The noise of them cooing in the morning / evening must have been defeating in their house. Once they had theirs done, the pigeons moved next door-but-one the other side. This week they had their panels meshed, the 40 minute job. Most of the pigeons have now moved on. There's only 1 house out of the 5 with no meshing. Guess where some of the pigeons are now? I"m sure they too will soon mesh their panels. TBF I'd pay the lower quote so long as it's stainless steel mesh. It does not need to be wire coated, plain metal is fine.

@helenalovelock1030 6 месяцев назад

@@johntisbury I have family of albino pigeons that have found mine 2 years running now . I thought they were Doves at first 😂

@helenalovelock1030 6 месяцев назад

@@johntisbury Thankyou so much they are so annoying all their debris falls on to the conservatory and into the guttering. And the cooong in the morning is driving me nuts. Not to mention they are probably pooing everywhere. There aren’t loads of them but I don’t want it getting worse. It’s mainly wood pigeons around here but the all white hybrid type ones deffo fit under there

@johntisbury 6 месяцев назад

@@helenalovelock1030 the 'feral' pigeons can bred all year so their numbers soon escalate. As you say the mess they make is abundant and constant. I was having to clean our path down the side of the house every week as the poo would get walked into the house otherwise.

@helenalovelock1030 6 месяцев назад

@@johntisbury you’ve convinced me I just accepted quote Thankyou 👍🏻

@abrody Год назад

🐝See the bee wagging his little butt at 14:25!

@johntisbury Год назад

He’s rather cute

@peelerflash Год назад

I had my panels inset , so no bird problems. Chap over the road has at least 15-20 birds gathering every night 🤦🏾‍♂️ Great job . will it be a new side hustle for you??

@johntisbury Год назад

Inserting panels certainly overcomes the bird issues. I don't think I'll be putting it on my resume tbf. 😂

@VC57UK 11 месяцев назад

As the panels are usually mounted on horizontal struts which would prevent birds either climbing upwards or downwards from the apex, isn't all that's really needed just pigeon guards at the sides? (Just a thought)

@johntisbury 11 месяцев назад

It's a sound suggestion, although the pigeons do not seem to have read the manual. I've seen them duck under our panels long the top and bottom edges. Granted they can't transit vertically due to the struts. But doesn't stop them trying. As I was up there is was easier to add protection on all sides. I guess if you could reduce costs and just do the sides.

@johnh9449 Год назад

Just a thought about the spikes - could the strip of spikes be installed upside down and when fixed, the wire pulled through the plastic so the loop hits the roof tiles and the single spikes above simply be snipped off flush? If that's possible it would save all the faffing about with templates.

@johntisbury Год назад

I guess that would work, although that would result in more work being done at heights on the roof rather than at ground level. Depending on the profile of the roof tiles it may not be as snug fitting against the profile of the tiles.

@gsdevme Год назад

Do you speak to your neighbour at all? those panels look like they might not be effective anymore, are they just not too bothered?

@johntisbury Год назад

They are not bothered. They inherited the panels when they moved in a few years ago so I guess they have no financial investment in them, even though they will get the original FiT payment.

@gsdevme Год назад

@@johntisbury Thought as much. Funny as Im sure they could reduce their usage abit in these troubled times with a quick clean if nothing else ha.

@johntisbury Год назад

Yup, some folks aren’t bothered.

@belfasta Год назад

Where did you get them clear clips from as I need them to do same as you and not having any luck sourcing them

@johntisbury Год назад

From here; check the thickness of your panels before ordering. www.birdcontrol.uk.com/shop/product/solar-spike-speed-clip-coming-soon/

@belfasta Год назад

@@johntisbury thanks

@citizen0076 7 месяцев назад

interesting, which country are you in?

@johntisbury 7 месяцев назад

I'm in the UK.

@mas0ny149 Год назад

How did you clean the Moss under the panels?

@johntisbury Год назад

I didn’t. I could not see any large build up under the panels. It was only evident at the end of the panels where the water rubs off and onto the roof tiles

@mas0ny149 Год назад

@@johntisbury ah gotcha. Thanks for the response. Was just wondering would you know how to clean under the panels? For lichen build up in particular? Thinking about installing panels but just a bit concerned about under them and the hassle of cleaning that

@johntisbury Год назад

@@mas0ny149 I've suggest a roof clean and algaecide application before installation. Afterwards the roof won't get hardly any sunlight which will inhibit regrowth.