Pigeons trampling plants under bird feeder

I have 2 lovely doves that I love to see, but they've had 4 babies, so now have a big family of them on my lawn & feeders.

I had a squirrel eating the buds off my Alicia Rosa, he leaned over from the trellis above the fence, grabbed a bud and sat there munching away. I had tethered the high plant to the fence in those high winds we had a few weeks ago, so I've now untethered to stop any more being eaten, cheeky squirrel!

The patio is nowhere near the feeders where they also congregate

Pigeons sit on top of my patio flower pots filled with violas so they are constantly crushed.
We put some sticks in the pots to try to give them pause for thought but they squeeze themselves onto the pots anyway. We have also seen them eating the flowers.

You could try the Roamwild pest proof bird feeders and use seed kernels which don't make so much waste. But I still find the pigeons try to 'bully' the little birds and also try to push the bird feeder onto the ground (cable ties solved that!).

I like AreWeThereYet's suggestion of CDs sounds good, but doesn't it frighten off the little birds too? A friend of mine suggested ribbons hung up too to deter gulls.

We have loads of those big fat pigeons around here, Wood pigeons I think they are. I love them but they are so greedy.
The little birds don't stand a chance. I've had problems with the pigeons trampling on pot plants, it's hard to dissuade them.
I don't put bird food anywhere near them now.

I have a problem with big fat pigeons eating all the bird food. I buy good quality, so costing quite a bit every week as they devour it all by the second day of putting it out. I haven't put any out this morning as although I don't want to deprive the regular birds & squirrels of their breakfast & tea, I would really like to see some little birds eating there too, but they're not getting a look in!

They say that the birds eat the slugs, but they don't eat mine, I go round with a torch and pick up bags of them YUK! I go out the next day of gathering, thinking I must have got them all by now, but no, always find lots more. Eaten all my newly planted Dahlias and Hostos!

The periwinkle Vinca minor is a tough ground cover plant that would be kept in check by the trampling.

www.thespruce.com/vinca-minor-vines-2132217

It does come with a warning though that it may be toxic to humans and is certainly toxic to pets, so may not be suitable for you.
Pigeons make a mess of my grass too, but it does come back OK in the Spring.

We've hung old CDs in the bushes nearby to reflect the sunlight. They move around and flash every time they catch the sun and the pigeons scarper. Sadly it doesn't work when there is no sunshine 😁 but keeps them away quite a lot. We're surrounded by trees so have masses of pigeons. I'm going to experiment this year by hanging them on the opposite side to catch more sun.

Unfortunately I loved feeding the birds BUT rats and rooks crows and pigeons hoover up discarded seeds. Now I only feed a blackbird who visits every day - he used to cone inside the kitchen but the dog chased him off. Now he looks through the French doors.

Thanks GSMum definitely worth a try and I shan’t mind if they spread.

Out in the garden just now, I wondered if violets might be suitable? I have several large patches of them. Green all year round so no bare earth in the winter. Their only disadvantage is that they spread and seed themselves around.

I've attached plastic plates to the bottom of my bird feeders so nothing falls on the ground.

J52 thanks for your suggestion, they grow well round here so definitely a possibility.

Spinnaker and GSMum would that it were so simple. Over the years the bird feeders have been all round the garden and this is the one place where they get decent use. I’ll put up with some bare earth so I can enjoy watching the birds but it would be good to know if there’s something I can plant there.

Crainsbill Geraniums are pretty indestructible, like growing in partial shade and will spread.
There are loads of varieties with colours ranging from white through to dark purple. Most garden centres sell them, but ask around friends to see if they’re dividing any. They will be just about showing growth now, so it’s a good time to get some.
Johnson’s Blue and Wargrave are pretty tough varieties.

I think whatever you plant the pigeons will trample it. As Spinnaker said, why not move the bird feeders? Mine hang on a tree under which there is grass and in wet weather the pigeons make even that messy.

Move the bird feeders ?