Pigeons are prolific breeders.
If you’ve spent any time outdoors you will more than likely have noticed that pigeons seem to be everywhere!
Some estimates put the world’s feral pigeon population at several hundred million, although nobody knows the exact number.
A pair of pigeons can raise around 10 to 12 squabs a year in good conditions.
In big cities, where there is abundant food and plenty of places to nest, pigeon numbers can grow very quickly.
In theory, a handful of pairs could lead to hundreds of pigeons within a couple of years if every chick survived.
Pigeon birth control is one way to limit population growth humanely.
OvoControl
Innolytics LLC has developed a product called Ovocontrol (opens in new tab) which is a type of bird food that works as a contraceptive.
Pigeons that have eaten Ovocontrol will lay eggs that do not develop.
Studies suggest it can reduce flocks over time, especially when combined with limiting food waste and nesting sites.
While there are various ways of deterring pigeons, scaring away or even using poison or traps to kill them, culling is usually ineffective in the long term because the remaining pigeons and new arrivals quickly refill the space.
OvoControl makes pigeon eggs much less likely to hatch.
Typically it is administered by an automatic feeder which is best placed on a rooftop, this sprinkles the food out every morning so that the pigeons get it into their system first thing for maximum effectiveness.
The manufacturer says flocks can fall by about half per year; real results vary with how consistently the bait is fed and how many pigeons move in from elsewhere.
How Does Pigeon Birth Control Work?
OvoControl is effective due to its use of the chemical nicarbazin (opens in new tab).
It has been used since the 1950s to help combat potentially fatal coccidiosis in young broiler chickens.
It was noticed that chickens that inadvertently consumed nicarbazin were prone to laying eggs that failed to hatch.
OvoControl is registered with the US EPA, and nicarbazin has been reviewed by other regulators, but rules and product availability differ from country to country.
At the doses used, nicarbazin is considered low in toxicity to pigeons and other wildlife, and its effect on hatching wears off a few days after the birds stop eating it.
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Last updated 24 October 2026 · Problems