What happens to bird feces when sanitized, but still physically present?
September 29, 2013 8:55 AM   Subscribe

Ok probably sounds disgusting, but I just have a theoretical interest in this ever since I moved to my new apt with a balcony frequent by the flying rat kind. I don't have time in the morning but I frequently spray some bleach water solution on the pigeon feces to scrape off later, and then I was wondering what chemically happens to the feces (or well, anything organic that contains pathogens and bacteria) when soaked in bleach. Are the soaked feces on the railing theoretically "clean" and sanitized? What happens??? What is left over? I don't intend to leave them there, just curious. BTW: any tips to keep pigeons away while at it? We covered all the balcony railings in reflective tape. It looks like a camp, silver palace now, but they still like it.
posted by ahtlast93 to Home & Garden (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
BTW: any tips to keep pigeons away while at it?


Fake plastic owl, rubber snakes?
posted by Freedomboy at 9:01 AM on September 29, 2013


They are coming over because your balcony has spots they like to perch in. Pigeons are very comfortable around people and can't really be scared away, physically limiting access with stuff like chickenwire blocking favorite nooks or small vertical spikes to prevent them from landing (something like this) is the only thing that works in my experience.
posted by Dr Dracator at 9:13 AM on September 29, 2013 [1 favorite]


It's not the feces to worry about so much as what lives in the feces.
posted by oceanjesse at 9:15 AM on September 29, 2013


Bleach kills the things, basically.
posted by oceanjesse at 9:16 AM on September 29, 2013


My BIL had problems with pigeons roosting on their condominium. I suggested he install pointy stakes to prevent the pigeons from landing (they do this in Japan), and it worked!

Pigeon droppings contain a lot of ammonia and acids, so perhaps that is enough to prevent serious pathogens from being present?
posted by KokuRyu at 9:17 AM on September 29, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yeah, bleach will kill the germs living in the matter, so you get left with just the organic matter - post-digestion food, whatever they found to eat that day.

I read a lot about pigeons. They're usually a bit shabby and quizzical-looking and greedy, so I kind of identify with the little guys. They're also known as "rock doves", are actually on average no more dirty and disease-spreading than cats, and used to be celebrated in ancient times as a great symbol of loyalty and fertility. They also carried messages during wars - some pigeons faithfully delivered their message despite being shot and sometimes mortally wounded - there is even a monument to them for it.

apologies for the slight derail. I'm a one-person pigeon love preacher and I can't help it.
posted by greenish at 9:42 AM on September 29, 2013 [13 favorites]


From a brewing perspective, clean and sanitized are different things. Something that is not clean cannot be sanitized. Spraying bleach on feces may kill surface bacteria, but will not likely kill everything. If you're intending to sanitize your balcony, scrub it clean with water and detergent, then use a sanitizer.
posted by Amity at 11:48 AM on September 29, 2013


I frequently spray some bleach water solution on the pigeon feces to scrape off later

This is a pretty common problem. Assuming the surface is relatively robust, use a steam cleaner instead of bleach. The bleach is a surface treatment at best.
posted by rr at 12:24 PM on September 29, 2013


Almost every sanitizer I can think of is only a surface sanitizer. It won't kill anything where it doesn't touch, including inside any solid part of the bird poop. The only thing I can think of that would sanitize (sterilize, really) without cleaning is irradiation.

The bleach won't hurt, but it probably won't make it much easier to clean off the poop.
posted by WasabiFlux at 1:29 AM on September 30, 2013


If this is a regular problem, you probably want something more akin to a poop remover/dissolver, such as Poop Off (and they also recommend a bactericide product afterward, which they sell).

There are also products used by those who keep birds as pets.
posted by dhartung at 3:37 AM on September 30, 2013


Birds have mites. I would be much more worried about this than about bird poo. Get some anti-roosting spikes.

When the young birds leave the nest, or die, many mites (often many tens of thousands) are left behind in the absence of a suitable host, and these will disperse from the nest into and throughout the dwelling searching for new hosts. Most mites will die within 3 weeks without a blood meal from a bird host. They will bite humans they encounter but cannot survive on humans.

...This can lead to severe irritation with rashes and intense itching. Scratching of the bites may result in secondary infections. Bird mites are not associated with the transmission of any infectious disease.

posted by glasseyes at 10:27 AM on September 30, 2013


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