Swallow Control

Swallows are a different problem from most of the birds on this site, and the difference matters when choosing a product. They do not perch on a flat ledge and foul it — they build mud nests attached to vertical walls, usually tucked up under an eave, a soffit or a beam. That changes which methods are appropriate, and it means some products that work well on pigeons and gulls are simply the wrong tool here.

Below are the Flock Free products we recommend for swallows. If you would rather understand the problem before choosing, the full guide continues underneath.

Shop Swallow Control Products

Prices shown as listed at the time of publication. See each product page for current pricing and availability. Shipping restrictions apply to certain Flock Free Bird Repellent products in CT, IN, MD, MT, NM, RI, WI and DC — see the individual product page for current availability and shipping information. Other products on this page are not affected.

Swallows are a species where we would genuinely rather talk to you first. Call 732-987-5400 — or keep reading below.

Continue Reading: How to Control Swallows

Why Swallows Become a Problem

• Mud nests on walls. Nests are attached directly to the building, and removing them leaves staining and residue on the surface.
• Fouling below the nest. Because nests sit above doorways, walkways and stock, the mess lands where it is least wanted.
• Colonies. Swallows often nest in groups, so one nest becomes several across a single elevation.
• Repeat occupancy. Sites used successfully in one season are commonly reused in the next.

Where Swallows Nest

• Under eaves and soffits, hard against the wall junction.
• On beams and joists inside barns, stables, carports and open outbuildings.
• Above doorways and loading entrances, on any sheltered vertical face.
• Under bridges, canopies and overhangs.

Why swallows come back

Swallows are strongly site-faithful and will return to a building that has worked for them, often to the exact wall. Removing a nest without changing the surface or closing the space usually results in it being rebuilt nearby.

How to Control Swallows

Exclusion is the primary approach

Because the birds need access to the sheltered space under an eave or inside an open structure, closing that space is the most reliable method. Bird netting fitted under eaves, across barn openings and beneath canopies denies access to the nesting face altogether. Fitting matters here — the net has to be tensioned tight to the structure with no gaps at the edges, because swallows are small and will use any way in.

Surface treatment on the nesting face

Surface Pro Tack makes a surface unattractive to attach to, and is available in a 1 gallon size for longer eaves runs. It is the surface product we would consider first for this species.

Bird repellent, applied before the season

The Flock Free repellent is plant-based and non-toxic, exempt under FIFRA 25(b). As with other small birds, timing is what makes it work: treat the surfaces before the nesting season starts rather than reacting once nests are being built, then maintain the program through the season. Use the Ready-to-Use spray for a single elevation, or the 1 gallon concentrate with sprayers or a hazer for larger buildings.

Why we are careful about spikes and gels here

Ledge products such as spikes and sticky gels are designed for birds that land on a horizontal surface. A swallow attaching a mud nest to a vertical wall is doing something different, and we do not assume the same products transfer. If your situation looks like it needs one of those, talk to us about the specific structure rather than ordering on the assumption that a pigeon solution will work.

Bird Bombs — spot treatment for enclosed spaces

Flock Free Bird Bombs are a scent repellent that gives you a long-lasting spot application. Each Bird Bomb is a highly absorbent pod designed to be saturated with Flock Free Bird Repellent, so the treatment stays put instead of needing to be re-sprayed.

Soak the Bird Bomb in the repellent solution — the mix rate is 50% concentrate to 50% water — then place it wherever you need to deter birds. They mount easily with zip ties or any other fastener.

They are designed for small, enclosed spaces: garbage cans, dumpsters, warehouses and small industrial facilities. On a barn or stable that usually means the feed room, the tack room or a storage bay rather than the open nesting face itself. The Bird Bombs cause irritation that suppresses the birds’ desire to feed and creates a sense of danger in that space.

The 5-pack is supplied on its own and needs Flock Free Bird Repellent separately. The Bird Bomb Bundle includes a single Bird Bomb with a 4 fl oz bottle of concentrate to soak it in.

Timing

Work on swallows is far simpler before the nesting season begins. Once nests are in use, the options narrow considerably and the schedule matters. If nests are already active on your building, contact us and we will talk through the sensible order of work and anything you should check locally first.

Choosing the Right Approach

With swallows the first question is whether the space can be closed. If the birds are getting in under an eave, into a barn or beneath a canopy, netting that opening is the most reliable thing you can do — and if it is fitted tight to the structure with no gaps at the edges, it settles the problem rather than moving it.

If closing the space is not practical, treat the face they attach to. Surface Pro Tack is the product we would reach for, and on a longer eaves run the gallon size makes more sense than spot-treating.

What we would not do is assume a pigeon solution transfers. Spikes and sticky gels are built for birds landing on a horizontal ledge; a swallow building a mud nest on a vertical wall is a different problem, and that is a conversation worth having before you buy.

Finally, plan around the season. Pre-season treatment is straightforward; mid-season is not. Since 2007, Flock Free has been working on barns, stables and farm buildings where this comes up every year — call 732-987-5400 and we will help you time it.

Related Bird Control Resources

• Bird Control Tips by Species of the Birds — our guidance across the other species we treat.
• Bird Netting and Accessories — netting, fixings and installation components.
• Liquid Products — the bird repellent range.
• Hazers and Sprayers — application equipment.
• Commercial Bird Control Services — for farms, larger sites and managed programs.

Shop by Bird

Flock Free guidance for the other species we treat:

• Pigeon Control
• Goose Control
• Seagull Control
• Starling Control
• Woodpecker Control
• Sparrow Control
• Grackle Control
• Crow Control
• Vulture and Buzzard Control
• Blue Heron Control
• Cormorant Control