What are Defender® Bird Spikes?

If you have never seen a bird spike before, you may wonder how they can humanely stop unwanted pigeons, seagulls and small garden birds from landing, roosting or perching on your property. This video shows you exactly what they are and how they work. Also, an insight into how easy bird spikes are to install and the range of Defender® Bird Spikes available.

What is a bird spike?

A bird spike is a humane device that physically stops birds from accessing certain areas of buildings, both domestic and commercial. At first glance, bird spikes look very similar as the best design consists of a flat base from which tall pins or spikes protrude and fan out at different angles. These are fixed onto surfaces and ledges around the outside of buildings to stop birds from landing and causing a nuisance.

The pins on the bird spike strips differ in height, from between 6 cm to 15 cm, and density depending on which bird species they are designed to deter. Typically, the base of all bird spikes will be approximately 33 cm long or around a foot in length. This makes them easier to handle and transport, especially as they will often be installed at height. As well as being different heights and depths, bird spikes can also be made from different materials. The two most common materials are polycarbonate plastic and stainless steel, both of which are hard-wearing, long-lasting, and designed to withstand the elements. The long flat bases are generally made from polycarbonate and then stainless steel pins or polycarbonate pins fan up from this base.

What is a Stainless Steel Bird Spike?

The Defender® bird spike base has a curved shape into which steel pins are clicked. The steel pins are V-shaped, and the angle of the fan is decided by the bird species and situation that the particular bird spike has been designed for. The pins are pushed by hand into specific clips that are moulded into the base, these permanently hold the V-shaped pins in place. Most bird spikes are bought preassembled and ready to use. The stainless steel used for the pins is 304 Grade which is rust resistant so over the years of exposure to rain and sun, it will not rust, discolour or stain the walls of the property. The stainless steel bird spikes are the most popular type used by trade bird control contractors and specified by architects as it carries a 25-year ‘No-Rust’ warranty. Occasionally, architects will specify the usage of 316 Grade stainless steel. This grade is often referred to as marine grade as it has excellent corrosion resistance perfect for use in harsher marine environments. All Defender® Bird Spikes can be purchased in either grade of steel.

What is a Polycarbonate Bird Spike?

The moulding process used to manufacture bird spike bases is versatile enough to create integral bird spikes with the base and pins moulded in one piece. The polycarbonate used is a high-performance plastic product that should not need replacing once installed, however, if this is the case, the plastic can be recycled. The polycarbonate plastic is UV stabilised to ensure it doesn’t go brittle in extreme weather temperatures or discolour over time and this means it carries a 15-year warranty.

Why do I need bird spikes?

Birds are opportunistic creatures and love to perch on high-up areas, away from predators and in sight of an easy food source. On domestic houses, this may be on window ledges, in gutters or on the top of the ridge on the roof and even under solar panels, particularly when a neighbour might enjoy feeding birds in the garden every day. Commercial buildings often have far more areas where birds might gather, like decorative ledges, coving, flat roofs, balustrades, parapets, porticos, large windowsills and signage. These vantage points are often within sight of restaurants and takeaways where there may be food wastage or easy access to overflowing bins containing unwanted food.

In many situations, birds cause no trouble at all and are in fact a joy for many people to have in their gardens, however, in some urban areas birds can quickly become a nuisance. Over time, even a single bird can produce large amounts of unsightly, unhygienic faeces which drop onto areas below where they perch. This in turn can cause slip hazards and health issues to people who live in proximity. If a flock has taken up residence and is roosting on a property overnight, there will also be a substantial build-up of feathers and old nesting material which is very unpleasant as well as a disruptive amount of noise. Not ideal for shop owners or corporate urban areas who need to portray a certain image. During the breeding season, some species of bird become territorial and swoop down on pedestrians which can cause minor injury, they are also known for swiping food out of people's hands.

How do Bird Spikes work?

Although bird spikes look aggressive, they are actually a humane method of encouraging perching and roosting birds to abandon a particular property. Whether the spike is manufactured from stainless steel or polycarbonate, they work on the same principle. Bird spikes are not only a visual barrier to the bird but also a physical barrier that will stop a bird from gaining a foothold on a ledge or surface. For example, if the base strip is positioned on the leading edge of a windowsill so that the fan of pins slightly overhangs when the birds try to fly back to their perch, these overhanging pins mean it cannot get close enough to the sill to find a stable enough place to stand.

The pins themselves, whether steel or plastic are not sharp, and the bird will not harm itself if it comes into contact with them. The most persistent birds may try to get close enough that the pins touch its chest, but obviously, that is uncomfortable in the long term and the bird will simply fly off and find a more accessible roost. Bird spikes are recommended by many bird authorities including the RSPB and PiCAS as a humane method of moving birds on.

Do Bird Spikes work for all species of bird?

The main principle of a bird spike is to stop a bird from landing on a surface. However, different-sized birds require different types of bird spikes. A large bird such as a seagull has long legs compared to, for example, a sparrow which is very small. A gull would be able to easily overcome something designed for a small sparrow, whereas a sparrow, might easily be able to fit between the spikes of a deterrent designed for a seagull. As a rule of thumb, 3 types of birds need to be deterred from urban buildings and domestic properties in the UK, and 3 types of birds spikes that deter these birds which are designed with the length of the bird’s leg in mind. There is some crossover between them due to the situation and siting of the spike.

What is a Seagull Spike?

The seagull is a fairly aggressive, territorial bird and as such needs a strong aggressive bird spike to deter it from ledges and surfaces on buildings. Typically a seagull spike’s pins are manufactured from 304 Grade stainless steel and are the longest pin which is 15 cm. This means a gull cannot stand over the spikes comfortably or gain a foothold on a ledge if they are installed correctly on the leading ledge. Pigeons, which are only slightly smaller birds, are also unable to access a surface that has seagull spikes installed. These are great spikes for when both birds are present such as in inland estuary towns. Check out all the Defender Spikes suitable for seagulls on the page Spikes for Seagulls.

What is a Pigeon Spike?

Pigeons are probably the most common bird that property owners want to move on from their properties and because of this, pigeon spikes have the biggest range. All pigeon spikes are made with a height of 11.5 cm due to the length of the pigeon's legs. Again, the pigeon is unable to stand over them or access a ledge where the spikes overhang. All ranges of pigeon spikes are available in both materials – polycarbonate or stainless steel. As these both work to deter pigeons in the same manner, the only differences between them are aesthetic and cost. The plastic is slightly cheaper while the stainless steel is less visible.

Depending on the width of the surface that pigeon spikes are to be installed on, there are several choices of spike, from an aggressive stainless steel extra wide version, a wide pigeon spike that comes in plastic and steel and a very narrow based pigeon spike which again is available in plastic or steel. All the Defender® range of pigeon spikes are listed on the menu page entitled Spikes For Pigeons

Is there a Bird Spike that deters all birds?

Birds in the UK vary in size however there is a bird spike that can be used to deter all birds. The Thistle® Bird Spike is a polycarbonate plastic spike that is half the height of a standard pigeon spike at only 6 cm tall. Theoretically, pigeons and seagulls have long legs and could overcome it, however, the Thistle® has an incredibly dense pattern of pins which fan out. The birds cannot physically fit their feet between the pins and therefore cannot get a foothold on the ledge or surface on which the Thistle® has been installed. The Thistle, being shorter than the standard bird spikes, is useful in areas where different species of birds perch and where the property owner is after a less visible option. Do read the more in-depth information on the Defender® Thistle®.

Can Bird Spikes be Installed anywhere?

Bird spikes can be installed easily using several methods. The preferred method is to use silicone adhesive on the bases and place them into position, however, they can also be screwed or cable tied. They are particularly suited to linear flat surfaces such as window ledges, balconies and parapet walls. All bird spikes can be adjusted in length to fit a particular length of surface exactly and if the area is wide, two or more rows can be installed. As the bird spike strip length can be shortened easily by snapping the base, curved areas can be proofed by installing smaller pieces along the curve or if the area allows, they can be fixed using cable ties as the polycarbonate bases are very flexible.

Some areas need specially designed bird spikes to accommodate the surface shapes where birds have been perching. There are special angled and curved ridge spikes which have shaped bases to give a more stable fit on the rooftop tiles. A chimney pot spike encircles the top of the pot to stop birds from nesting on the top. A lamp spike is just one strip which has wires over a metre long that sway in the wind. This is perfect for the top of street lamps and deters all birds. Gutter spikes simply clip on the edge of a gutter but don’t stop the flow of water underneath and window spikes allow bird spikes to be attached to the outside of an opening window and hover just above the sill. Take a look at the page Not sure what to buy which lists all the possible products and scenarios.

Of course, if you need any help or advise, please do call our lovely customer service team on 01626 835055 or email sales@jonesandson.co.uk with any questions you have.