Bird Spikes for the Ultimate in Bird Control

 

If you own a small retail shop, pest birds can quickly turn it into a “little shop of horrors.” Unless you implement some type of effective bird control, pest birds can “dive bomb” your customers coming and going. Birds can also deface your signage, your windows and doors, even your walkways. Bird droppings on walkways can be a double problem since they can be tracked into your shop and they can create dangerous slip-and-fall hazards. Customers who slip on your property and become injured can file a legal claim against you for injury. The last thing you need right now. 

Without effective bird deterrents like Bird Spikes, pest birds can tie up your staff with daily cleaning chores. Windows and doors must be constantly cleaned. Walkways must be hosed down. Signage must be cleaned and cleared of bird nests (this usually requires your maintenance staff to climb a ladder). Birds nests and droppings can also clog rain gutters and spouts. And they can damage rooftop AC units, skylights and solar panels.

One proven way to get rid of birds is to use today’s most popular and effective bird control device: the Bird Spike.  

Bird spikes are easy to install on ledges, parapet walls, conduits and signs--on either flat or curved surfaces. Long lasting, USA-made stainless steel spikes come in 3-, 5- and 8-inch wide spiked strips and two-foot sections. Here’s how to evaluate the spiked strips for the coverage you need:

• 3-inch spikes will provide 2 to 4 inches of coverage on a 5-inch wide ledge
• 5-inch spikes will cover 5 to 7-inches on a 7-inch wide ledge
• 8-inch spikes will cover 8 to 10 inches on a 10-inch wide ledge

A company called Bird-B-Gone offers a stainless steel spike with a patented “bend-and-crush” design that has 40 spikes per foot. This will provide ample bird deterrence for many applications. Bird spikes also come in unbreakable polycarbonate. These versatile spikes can be used to keep birds off cell phone antennas and other radio frequency aerials. Poly spikes come in rows of spiked strips in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths and two-foot sections. Some shop owners prefer these spikes simply because they come in a variety of colors—like white, tan, gray, black, brown, brick red and crystal clear—to match their storefront.

Before you install bird spikes, clean out any nests and droppings. When installing bird spikes, the spike’s width should leave no more than a 1-inch gap on either side. To attach the spike, use glue, screws or tie-down straps. To install the spikes on pipes and conduits, use common hose clamps, nylon ties or wire lashings. To glue down the spikes, use a construction-grade adhesive (available at hardware stores). To screw down the spikes, use the offset pre-drilled holes provided. Better quality spikes will have breakaway notches if you need smaller spiked sections.