How to rid huge barn of birds?

[Fuddyduddy1952]

There is a very large renovated barn, about 60ft x 80ft x 40+ ft ht that's full of birds...barn swallow I think. Bird droppings everywhere, Gambrel roof style no coupolas. Anyone know how you could keep them out? It's full of rafters very high up, has hay loft with end doors, very large drive through ground level with rolling double doors each end. I think impossible to seal doors and stall windows tight. Hundreds of birds, mostly mud nests on walls & high up.
Way too much for cats plus they couldn't get up where they are I'm thinking.

 

[dstig1]

 

[BnRidge]

 

[mikester]

So few barn swallows left anymore, you need to seal the barn up tight so they can't come in or go out anymore if you want to be sure to kill and eradicate them. The bird poop is acidic from eating all those flying bugs and is bad for paint on your barn parked classic cars.

 

[Runner]

I have seen people put up plastic models of predatory birds (owls) on boat docks, presumably to keep martins away. Don't know if it works.

 

[LHF2019]

There is a very large renovated barn, about 60ft x 80ft x 40+ ft ht that's full of birds...barn swallow I think. Bird droppings everywhere, Gambrel roof style no coupolas. Anyone know how you could keep them out? It's full of rafters very high up, has hay loft with end doors, very large drive through ground level with rolling double doors each end. I think impossible to seal doors and stall windows tight. Hundreds of birds, mostly mud nests on walls & high up.
Way too much for cats plus they couldn't get up where they are I'm thinking.

Or enjoy their company and realize what value they have and focus on the starlings that are invasive and kill them. Not native species of birds.

 

[Doorman63]

My neighbors shed-approx 60x100 is coated with bed crap.
He never shuts the overhead doors!!
Every fall I spend about an hour chipping mud wasp nests out of the openers and lubing stuff up.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

So few barn swallows left anymore, you need to seal the barn up tight so they can't come in or go out anymore if you want to be sure to kill and eradicate them. The bird poop is acidic from eating all those flying bugs and is bad for paint on your barn parked classic cars.

The garage is fine.
This is a different structure. Block up about half way, wood with steel panel, steel roof.

 

[EddieWalker]

Spray foam the entire thing. I know it's a crazy idea and stupid expensive.

Is it really 40 feet tall?

I wonder if there is something that can be sprayed that will deter them? Some sort of chemical of scent that they don't like?

I've been hired by clients to seal up their attics. Usually, the gable ends of the house was done in Western Ceder and animals have eaten holes through it. I patch the insides of the holes with metal plates, which works great. I just can't imagine doing that on a building that big. If it was mine, I would, but I hate to think of what it will take to get it all done!!!

 

[zzvyb6]

I have a propane powered 'bird cannon' used in orchards that even keeps the neighbors away and alert. It comes with a timer to set the intervals. Order ear muffs, too. Louder than a shotgun.

However, count on your mosquito population to explode.

 

[jyoutz]

There is a very large renovated barn, about 60ft x 80ft x 40+ ft ht that's full of birds...barn swallow I think. Bird droppings everywhere, Gambrel roof style no coupolas. Anyone know how you could keep them out? It's full of rafters very high up, has hay loft with end doors, very large drive through ground level with rolling double doors each end. I think impossible to seal doors and stall windows tight. Hundreds of birds, mostly mud nests on walls & high up.
Way too much for cats plus they couldn't get up where they are I'm thinking.

I use this in my orchard when I have a good fruit year. It randomly broadcasts bird predator sounds (hawks) and the distress sounds of the birds that are the problem. It works, but you have to be ok with the random sounds.

Bird Gard – The future of Bird Control, today.

Bird Gard employs advanced bioacoustics to effectively deter nuisance birds from agricultural areas, significantly reducing crop damage and boosting profits. With field-tested technology that prevents habituation, easy installation, and no annual operating costs, Bird Gard® has a proven record...

birdgard.com

 

[ponytug]

I use this in my orchard when I have a good fruit year. It randomly broadcasts bird predator sounds (hawks) and the distress sounds of the birds that are the problem. It works, but you have to be ok with the random sounds.

Bird Gard – The future of Bird Control, today.

Bird Gard employs advanced bioacoustics to effectively deter nuisance birds from agricultural areas, significantly reducing crop damage and boosting profits. With field-tested technology that prevents habituation, easy installation, and no annual operating costs, Bird Gard® has a proven record...

birdgard.com

I've been around them occasionally and personally, I find the random distress calls unsettling. But perhaps one gets used to it with time. I will say that the Bird Gards did keep the areas clear of birds.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

It's a long-long story and not our barn...yet.
Thanks so much for replies and it helps in my consideration of whether at our age we want taking on that project. I can post pictures and here's one showing part of inside. It is a "yuge" barn that's had lots of money put in it already.

 

[ericm979]

Wow that looks nice!

I'd start by finding ways to seal the building so the birds can't get in. You don't need to close it up as tight as is needed to keep out mice or rats. Just tight enough to keep them from flying in.

That's judging from evicting swifts who wanted to nest in my garage in Oregon. Once I blocked off the missing window pane and kept the doors closed they stopped getting in.

 

[EddieWalker]

Love the block walls!!!!

Looking at the picture, it appears there are only two gable ends to deal with. Is there an obvious opening that they are using to enter the barn?

Once it's sealed up, I like the cannon sound idea to scare them out. Probably just shoot a gun into something safe and see if that scares them out of the barn, then shut it closed and keep them from coming back in.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

There is a very large renovated barn, about 60ft x 80ft x 40+ ft ht that's full of birds...barn swallow I think. Bird droppings everywhere, Gambrel roof style no coupolas. Anyone know how you could keep them out? It's full of rafters very high up, has hay loft with end doors, very large drive through ground level with rolling double doors each end. I think impossible to seal doors and stall windows tight. Hundreds of birds, mostly mud nests on walls & high up.
Way too much for cats plus they couldn't get up where they are I'm thinking.

I use a 30" air horn with a remote ball valve to get the red squirrels out of my garage.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Unless you are going to remove or not use those stalls, I don't see keeping the doors closed during the season that the barn swallows are using it?

 

[masseyrider]

I would eradicate the owner before I would even consider harming a Martin.

 

[Runner]

I use a 30" air horn with a remote ball valve to get the red squirrels out of my garage.

 

[ericm979]

Once they have built nests they're going to want to stay until the chick fledge. The time to exclude them is before they nest. Or you can remove nests as they build them.

BTW swallows are federally protected. It looks like it's ok to discourage them and even to remove nests but not if they have eggs or young. This page has a lot of good info in general and useful tips on removing/discouraging them: Nuisance swallows | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service