Plastic Bird Spikes

Tuesday 8 Jun 2010 by Admin | 139 Comments
Filed under: Bird Deterrents, bird spikes, pigeons, plastic bird spikes Tags: , ,

Do you have a problem with birds around your house or business?  Are they sitting on the railing, roof, or balcony and pooping all over the place?  Does the non-stop ruckus that they make wake you up dawn?  If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone.  Many people have bird problems and don’t know what to do about it.  Fortunately, there are some simple solutions that you can implement to scare off these pesky fliers.

Plastic Bird Spikes

Although people try all kinds of things to get rid of pesky birds, one of the simplest and most cost effective methods is to use plastic bird spikes.  While bird spikes sound like something that would hurt the birds, they are harmless.  In fact, all they do is keep the birds from landing on your railing, making them move on to another location.  The way bird spikes work is that when a pigeon, seagull, or other large bird goes to land, they find that there is no comfortable spot.  With so many other locations all around them, they simply fly away and stop somewhere else.

Plastic bird spikes are the alternative to those made from stainless steel.  Both types work great, but they have their differences.  The most obvious difference is appearance.  Stainless steel is a shiny metal, so if you use this type of spike, they will be visible more than those made from plastic.  This isn’t much of a problem though for many people, depending on where you want to use them.  A length of plastic bird spike is clear, which means from a distance it is hardly noticeable.  This is a reason why it is such a popular choice for use on balconies, railings, and other highly visible locations.

See Both Types of Bird Spikes Here.

Choosing the Right Spikes

While plastic bird spikes will work for almost any common bird, the sizes do vary.  What changes from product to product is the width that the spikes are placed.  Small birds like sparrows can obviously land on much smaller spots, so if they are your problem, you will need to get a set of narrow bird spikes.  One row should work fine if you are installing them on a railing, but for a wider wall or roof ledge you will probably need to lay a few side by side.

The most common type of bird that annoys people is the pigeon.  Some cities are absolutely overrun by pigeons, and many people find themselves at wits end to get them off their balcony or ledge.  In addition to pigeons, other types of doves can be a major nuisance as well.  Bird spike producers are well aware of the problems that pigeons cause, and there are plenty of products specifically aimed at deterring them.  Pigeon spikes are spaced a little bit wider than those meant for smaller birds.

The cost of plastic bird spikes will depend mostly on how large an area you need to cover.  If you simply want to put them on an air conditioner or window ledge, you can solve your problem for less than $10.  On the other hand, if you want to lay them on the perimeter of your home’s roof, you will need to spend a bit more money.  That said, they tend to be very reasonably priced and will save you a lot of time spent cleaning up bird poop.  In addition, they are pretty much a necessity for any business that has a bird problem, since the last thing you want is to have those pesky birds pooping on customers!


How to Make Your Own Bird Spikes

Saturday 24 Jul 2010 by Admin | 58 Comments
Filed under: bird spikes, installing bird spikes, plastic bird spikes Tags: , , , ,

When it comes to deterring birds from areas around your home or business, some people try to make their own bird spikes.  While you can certainly do this, you should first consider whether or not you will spend more money trying to make them yourself than if you were to just buy some.  If you do a little comparison shopping on the internet, you will find that you can get plastic bird spikes for as little as $4 for an 8 foot length, although some of them cost considerably more than this.

The best place to buy Bird Spikes is Here. Most people will just decide to buy them when they figure out that they will probably spend more money making them in the cost of materials than if they were to have just purchased a some bird spikes.  Having said that, for very small areas like window ledges or the tops of air conditioners, it is very simple to make your own spikes and use them instead of buying some.

If you still want to make some of them yourself, here is a simple way to do it.

plastic bird spikesYou can make yourself some homemade bird spikes using strips of wood and some nails. Although you can use any scrap pieces of 2 X 4 sitting around, if you want them to be lightweight and easy to put in place, it is best to use a thinner piece of wood.  If you can find a 1 X 4, or even a 2 X 2 strip, that would work pretty well.  Cut your wood using a saw to the length needed to cover the area that you need to keep birds away from.

Once you have your wood, the next thing you need are nails.  Try to get the thinnest nails that you can find.  Since nails can be costly, and you will be using quite a few of them, find ones that aren't too expensive.  Make sure they are at least 2 inches long, so the birds will see them and not land on them.

To make the actual bird spikes, all you need to do is hammer in the nails in three strips.  The first strip is going to be right down the middle of the wood.  Space them about an inch or so apart.  The other two rows of nails are going to go on either side, and you want to nail them in at an angle.  You want the nails to be sticking out at a 45 degree angle.  If you are confused, look at the picture on the left of the bird spikes, and you should get a good idea of how it should look.  If you have access to a nail gun, the nailing process will be a lot faster, but most people don't have one of these.  You should get a good arm workout doing this job!

Once you have your strip, you need to set it in place.  You pretty much have two choices for fastening it to the area you want it:  Screw or nail it down, or glue it.  If you are putting it on a wooden railing, you can either screw or nail it down pretty easily to fasten it.  A couple screws on either end and in the middle should do the trick.  If you are putting it on concrete or metal, you will need to glue it down.  Any good industrial-strength glue that is made to bond to cement or metal should work.


How to Get Rid of Seagulls

Thursday 22 Jul 2010 by Admin | 475 Comments
Filed under: Bird Deterrents, bird repellers Tags: , , , ,

If you live in a coastal area, chances are you are well aware of how seagulls can cause a problem.  As a matter of fact, you don't even need to live near the coast to have very close encounters with seagulls.  They are quite common in many inland areas as well, having grown accustomed to living near humans.  Although seagulls are definitely graceful and beautiful birds, they do have a tendency to flock in large numbers and annoy people.  The biggest annoyances are usually seagulls stealing people's food, hanging out by the dozens in places you don't want them to be, and making a mess by pooping all over the place. If this sounds familiar to you, here are a few tips on how to get rid of seagulls without going crazy.

The first thing that you will need to do is find out where they tend to hang out the most.  The reason is because there are a few different methods to go about getting rid of seagulls, and each one works best under the right circumstances.

Keeping Seagulls off a Small Area

If the area you are trying to protect is very small, such as a railing, windowsill, or chimney top, you can try using bird spikes.  They are designed to keep birds from landing on them, making it uncomfortable to rest.  Even though they have a brutal sounding name, they are in fact harmless to birds.  You can get plastic bird spikes, or ones made from stainless steel, and they come in long strips of 8 to 10 feet.  One thing to know about using bird spikes is that they work great for locations birds perch on, but they won't do much good in larger areas if birds are invading your entire balcony, porch, boat, or other location.

Keeping Seagulls off a Larger Area

electronic bird repellerIf you want to really get rid of seagulls from an area, the best thing to do is get an electronic bird repeller.  These devices are made to scare off seagulls and many other types of birds using distress calls from actual birds.  There are bird repellers that aren't too expensive and will work for a smaller space, and there are others that are built for keeping birds away from a large area up to 3 acres in size.  This is probably going to be your best choice if you have a bad seagull problem, since they will usually find alternative spots to sit if you install bird spikes or other simple deterrents like that.   You can buy this Electronic Bird Repeller Here directly from the manufacturer.


Getting Rid of Pigeons and Other Birds with an Electronic Bird Repeller

Tuesday 20 Jul 2010 by Admin | 70 Comments
Filed under: Bird Deterrents, bird repellers, pigeons Tags: , , , ,

There are certainly a wide range of ways that people use for getting rid of pigeons and other birds.  Sometimes birds just need to go somewhere else, and convincing them of this is easier said than done.  This article focuses on pigeons because they seem to be the bird that causes the most headaches for people around the world.  Having said that, you might not have pigeons in your area, and another bird may be causing trouble.  Regardless of which bird you have in your area, there is an easy way of getting rid of them.

While many people seem to focus on cheap and simple solutions to their bird problems, they certainly don't work everywhere.  While inexpensive plastic bird spikes, owl decoys, and reflective ribbon may work well for certain well-defined locations, they don't do much at all to keep pigeons and other birds away from larger areas like rooftops, backyards, and parking lots.  If you need a more comprehensive bird control solution for an area, you really need to consider getting an electronic bird repeller.

How does an Electronic Bird Repeller Work?

bird repellerMany people have never heard of these gadgets, but they have been in use for years now.  They are small, electronic devices with a speaker attached.  At regular time intervals throughout the day or night, the unit plays pre-recorded sounds of birds that are in distreess.  The reason why they work is because any bird that hears it instinctively knows that danger is nearby.  Birds have natural mechanisms for alerting each other of threatening situations, and these sounds are recorded from real animals so they sound real to the birds.

Do Electronic Bird Repellers Work for Different Types of Birds?

The manufacturers of this device know that people have problems with different types of birds, and not just pigeons.  For this reason, the repellers allow you to adjust the setting to the type of bird that you are trying to keep away.  If you were trying to get rid of pigeons for example, simply turn the knob to the pigeon setting, and it will work for them.  While the repeller will work for all sorts of birds, the main ones that usually cause problems are specifically included with their unique distress calls.  Here are the most common problem birds:  pigeons, crows, starlings, sparrows, and seagulls.  Keep in mind that there are certain bird repellers that specifically target some problem birds, designed for situations where one type of bird is causing big problems. You can get them for woodpeckers and geese.

What Kind of Bird Repeller is Best?

The type of electronic bird repeller that you need will depend on the situation you are in.  For most households and businesses, the Bird Xpeller Pro is probably going to be your best choice.  It is a single unit, meant to keep pigeons and other birds away from an area up to an acre in size, so it is pretty powerful.  If you need a solution for a larger area than that, they are available as well.

Get the BirdXPeller Pro Here directly from the manufacturer, Bird-X.


Woodpecker Deterrents: What Works and What Doesn't

Sunday 18 Jul 2010 by Admin | 356 Comments
Filed under: Bird Deterrents, woodpeckers Tags: , , , ,

Many bird lovers are absolutely thrilled when they glimpse a woodpecker in the woods, but for other people, there is a different story.  You see, while the noise that these birds make when they are in the middle of the woods sounds great, when it happens right outside your window it can be a real eardrum-shattering racket.  Even worse, when a woodpecker decides to peck away at the siding on your house, it can be downright destructive, costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage.

There is really no need to get too upset though, since there are some really good woodpecker deterrents that are meant to keep them away from your house and in the trees where they belong.  Of course, creative people have been coming up with their own home-made devices to keep woodpeckers and other birds at bay for years, and some work, but others don't.  Screaming and throwing sticks at woodpeckers might work once or twice, but they aren't really a good long term solution.  Here are some of the best ways that people have found to keep woodpeckers away.

Scary Eyes Balloons
scary eyes balloonOne of the most common ways of woodpecker control is to scare them off using an inflatable balloon.  These balloons might look pretty silly to humans, but they actually do the trick for birds.  They are about 2 feet around, and with scary looking round bird eyes on them, birds think they are a formidable predator.  If you are going to use them, it would probably be a good idea to get a few of them so you can protect all sides of your house.  Manufacturers usually recommend hanging them from a tree limb or other location near where the birds are causing a problem. See the Terror Eyes Balloon Here.


Highly Reflective Ribbon
Another method of woodpecker deterrent that seems to work pretty well is to hang reflective ribbon in areas where you want to keep them away.  This might work for certain defined spots, such as a tree or in the garage.  For keeping woodpeckers from drilling holes in the side of your house, you can try tacking one strand of the ribbon loosely around the area where they are going.  Bird repellent ribbon works because it moves around in the wind and the sun reflects off the ribbon, scaring and irritating birds. Find the Bird Repeller Ribbon Here

Electronic Bird Repellers
Woodpecker Pro Bird RepellerIf you really want to get serious about keeping the woodpeckers out, what you need is an electronic bird repeller.  A company called BirdX makes one specifically suited for woodpeckers.  It is a comprehensive solution to the problem, covering a large area around your house and beyond.  The way it works is that it plays pre-recorded woodpecker distress calls.  When woodpeckers hear it, they instantly know that the area is not safe and fly somewhere else.  The Woodpecker Pro is made to run continuously for years without any maintenance. You can Buy the Woodpecker Pro Bird Repellent and other Bird Control Products Directly from the Manufacturer Here.


Pigeon Extermination the Safe and Easy Way

Friday 16 Jul 2010 by Admin | 73 Comments
Filed under: Bird Deterrents, bird netting, bird spikes, decoys, pigeons Tags: , , , ,

When most people have a problem with pests, they call an exterminator.  Although there is certainly nothing wrong with this, the truth is that most professional exterminators focus their efforts on pests like bugs and rodents.  In fact, many of them really aren't prepared to deal with bird problems. The reason is because pigeons and other birds are an entirely different type of pest, and they require entirely different methods to remove them.
The first thing you should know about pigeon extermination is that unlike other common household pests, you aren't trying to kill the pigeons.  Although some people would like to, it really isn't necessary at all to hurt the pigeons, and the only thing you should be doing is stopping them from landing where you don't want them.

pigeon deterrentAnother thing to know is that you really don't need to call a pigeon exterminator at all.
There are some really good products available that you can buy and install yourself, thus saving you the costly fees that a professional would charge for coming to your house.  Having said that, some people still choose to leave it to a pro because of the convenience.

Here are the main products you can use to get rid of pigeons, otherwise referred to by some as exterminating pigeons:

Bird Spikes: If you are having a problem in a small, well defined area that the pigeons are landing on, an easy solution is to use bird spikes.  They work best on railings and other locations that they perch on, and come in both plastic or stainless steel varieties.  Plastic bird spikes are not as visible as the metal kind.  You can Buy Bird Spikes Here.

Owl Decoys: If the pigeons are all over an area, and you want to scare them away, a great method is to use an owl decoy.  There are some great decoys available that even hoot and turn their heads when they sense motion, and since owls are a natural predator of pigeons, they certainly choose to stay away.

Bird Netting: If you really want a comprehensive answer to keeping birds away, bird netting is a good choice.  Although not the best thing for your balcony view, it will keep all birds out.  This is also great for gardens, which is sold as fruit netting.

Bird Repellent Gel: A quick and easy solution to many bird problems, apply this sticky bird repellent gel to any surface you don't want the birds to land on, and they will quickly learn not to anymore.  Just don't touch it, as it makes a sticky mess on your skin or clothes!

You can Find a Complete Line of Bird-X Bird Control Products Here.


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