How to Keep Birds Out of a Barn

Co-authored by Kyle Hall

Last Updated: March 21, 2022

Birds are pleasant barn companions when they’re singing or eating pesky insects, but they can cause problems in large numbers. Birds can eat your grain and animal feed, contaminate your animals’ water supply, and leave droppings all over your equipment. Fortunately, there are ways you can bird-proof your barn and humanely remove existing birds to prevent a bird takeover.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Bird-Proofing Your Barn

1
Keep your grain in bird-proof containers. If birds have easy access to your grain, they’ll associate your barn with food and keep coming back. To prevent that from happening, store your grain in bird-proof containers so birds can’t get to it.^{[1]
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- Large garbage bins with lids and sealable plastic containers are good bird-proof options for storing your grain.
2
Use covered feeders to feed your barn animals. Birds quickly spot food in open feeders, but covered feeders will keep the food hidden and harder to reach. Swap out your open feeders with covered feeders so birds are less likely to rely on your barn for food.^{[2]
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- Covered feeders work like regular troughs, but they have a roof over them. You can find covered feeders in different shapes, sizes, and heights online.
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3
Cover open doorways with vertical plastic strips. Covering open doorways that lead outside with plastic strips will prevent birds from flying into your barn. Hanging up plastic strips is easier and cheaper than having doors installed, and you’ll still be able to move equipment in and out of your barn with ease.^{[3]
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4
Seal off any openings that are bigger than ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) in diameter. Birds can easily get into your barn through small openings, so you want to do a thorough inspection of your barn and take note of any possible entrances. Cover any openings with wood or wire mesh so birds can’t go through them.^{[4]
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5
Use perch repellents to discourage birds from roosting. Perch repellants make the places birds like to perch, roost, and nest less comfortable. By taking those spots away, you can discourage the birds from sticking around. There are a variety of perch repellents available to choose from, including:^{[5]
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- Porcupine wires. Porcupine wires are spikey wires you can place on rafters or posts where birds like to roost. Birds can’t get comfortable on them, so they fly away.
- Electric perch repellents. Electric perch repellents are cables that will give birds a minor shock when they land on them.
- Chemical perch repellents. You can spray chemical perch repellents on the places in your barn where birds like to perch. The repellent will make these spots sticky or slippery so birds don’t like them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Visuals and Noise

1
Set up a predator decoy to scare away birds. Buy a fake plastic owl or hawk and place it somewhere near your barn. You can also try putting up a scarecrow outside your barn. Keep in mind that a decoy is only a temporary solution. Eventually, birds will realize it’s fake and ignore it. After you set up the decoy, work on implementing long-term solutions for keeping birds away.^{[6]
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2
Put reflective tape on spots where you don’t want birds to land. Birds don’t like reflective surfaces, so reflective tape can be an effective way to deter them. Attach the tape to posts, fences, and feeders that you don’t want birds landing on.^{[7]
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- You can find reflective tape online or at your local home improvement store.
- You can also try hanging shiny aluminum pie plates around your barn to scare away birds.
3
Install a noise maker. When the noise maker goes off, it will scare away nearby birds. Place the noise maker inside or outside of your barn in an area where birds like to perch. You may want to use multiple noise makers for maximum effect.^{[8]
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- There are a variety of noise makers with different kinds of noises to choose from. Look for one that’s designed specifically to scare off birds.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing the Birds

1
Remove bird nests as they’re being built. By taking down nests before birds lay eggs in them, you can prevent the birds from staying around your barn. If you notice birds building a nest, remove any twigs or leaves from the spot so they leave and nest elsewhere.^{[9]
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- Make sure you check for eggs before you take a nest down. If you find eggs, consider leaving the nest in place until the eggs hatch and the birds have a chance to leave.
- Keep in mind that some birds may have protected status where you live, and interfering with their nesting could be illegal. Check your local wildlife laws before you attempt to take down any nests.
2
Relocate birds using live traps. Trapping birds and releasing them in a different location can be an effective way of removing them from your barn. Place traps in areas where birds like to feed or perch. You’ll need to put out food to encourage the birds to go into the traps. It may take several days before the birds feel comfortable entering the traps you’ve set out.^{[10]
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- A bob trap is a popular kind of live trap you can try. Birds can enter a bob trap by pushing through the rods that dangle on one side. The rods can't be pushed outward from the inside, so the birds aren't able to escape.
- A funnel trap is another option. A funnel trap has a funnel-shaped opening that birds can easily enter. Once they're inside, they aren't able to exit through the small hole they entered through.
3
Hire a professional if the problem gets out of control. When too many birds start to roost and nest in your barn, your equipment and animals can suffer. If other methods have failed, reach out to a wildlife pest control professional for help. They’ll be able to inspect your barn and determine which method is appropriate for removing the birds. They’ll also have suggestions for preventing a future bird infestation.^{[11]
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