What are Bird Spikes?

If you are looking for a cost effective, yet humane way to keep birds from roosting in inconvenient areas, bird spikes might be your best bet. Yet the name bird ‘spikes’ might not be the best descriptor for these deterrents, as they won’t be impaling our feathered friends. Rather, bird spikes are simply thin pieces of wire that protrude from a central strip, which will prevent birds from landing in the area in which the strip is placed.

Don’t get the wrong idea though; you don’t have to dislike birds to use a bird control device like bird spikes. While watching and feeding birds can be an incredibly peaceful form of therapy, a entertaining hobby, and a soothing way to pass your day, at times these avian creatures can become a nuisance. Whether they are nesting in your gutters, leaving droppings all over your home, porch, car, or worse, you, or driving you insane with their incessant chirping, squawking, or cooing, you might just not want them in close proximity to your home or place of business. Still, that doesn’t mean you want to do them any harm.

Birds can be incredibly persistent creatures when it comes to their roosting and territorial areas. This doesn’t mean you need to resort to drastic measures though. Rather than using inhumane methods such as noise or scare tactics that can interfere with a bird’s nesting practices, or repellent, poison, or other preventative strategies that might harm the bird or other animals in the process, bird spikes can be an effective means of keeping birds at bay in a more compassionate manner. Bird spikes are also a more permanent method of prevention and insure you can avoid the common issues and problems associated with birds, but avoid the guilt when doing so.

The design of the bird spike makes it perfect for lining ledges, window sills, railings, thin edging over doorways, roof ledges, gutters, awnings, and other areas that are coming nesting or gathering spots for birds. Typically, bird spikes come in small strips (usually sections of one to two feet in length), and can be attached to problem areas by using adhesive or clips. This can make for easy removal after birds have moved on or if the spikes need to be moved to a new location. Ensuring the area in which you plan to use the strips is cleaned from debris before beginning can make for a more secure attachment of the spikes when using adhesive. This will help to avoid elements such as wind, rain, snow, birds, squirrels, and other forces of nature from more easily detaching the spikes.

At times, the areas in which you find birds are causing problems can be dangerous or difficult to access. If this is the case, it may be advisable to contact a handyman to assist with installation or to install the bird spikes for you. It is also important to ensure that other professionals or repair people, such as roofers, gutter or chimney cleaners, window cleaners, etc. are aware of the location of bird spikes. This can avoid workers unknowingly detaching or bending the spikes during the course of their work through the use of ladders, by stepping on them, placing tools and equipment on them, or by other means.

Bird Spikes For Gutters

Birds are one of Mother Nature’s creations that everyone loves to see, as long as it’s from a distance. Unfortunately there are situations when our feathered friends decide to make their nest and flutter through life in your gutter or on your window sill. This is when the birdie is no longer scenic and becomes a pest bird.

Their noise levels may be disrupting and bird odors are many times intolerable, just the sight of bird droppings everywhere is unappealing. The feces can corrode metals, damage plastics and discolor paint. It is likely the first noticeable hindrance is that the bird nests block your gutters making them nonfunctional.

The mess nesting birds make of your home is only part of the problem, they carry diseases that are transmittable to humans. Some diseases that birds carry are West Nile virus and influenza; the passing of mites and ticks poses the threat of Lyme disease. Although everyone is susceptible to contracting a disease, young children and the elderly are more likely to be affected. Anyone with a weakened immune system because of another existing illness is also at higher risk.

Acting quickly is a skillful suggestion to eliminate the common problem of birds nesting in your gutters, eaves, and roof tops. Deterring pest birds before they become a huge problem is both economical and less toil. If the situation is not dealt with early, a professional clean-up is necessary to avoid the spread of disease, along with the fact that many of these birds are under federal protection and it is against the law to demolish an active nest.

The easiest and most effective way to handle a pest bird problem in your gutter is to install bird spikes. This is a proven method that does not deface the gutter and allows it to function with the spikes in place. Gutter spikes come in 2 foot long strips with three thumbscrews to each strip; an easy twist of each “c” clamp secures these stainless steel spikes in place to do their job. The spikes are not a distasteful sight, but successful in deterring pest birds as they do not want to nest in a bed of spikes. Bird spikes are removed from the gutter as quickly and easily as they are installed, and also aid with pest birds on docks, ledges, and canopies.

Birds have every right to be on our planet as does the human being; the idea is to discourage the bird without harm. A gutter spike does this while being a prompt resolution and portable product. A bothersome problem solved, the homeowner is content while following federal law and the beautiful bird lives on.

Why You Should Buy Stainless Steel Bird Spikes

There are several different kinds of bird spikes such as plastic or stainless steel. If you want to make a purchase it is definitely important to consider the choices. However, stainless steel bird spikes are a much better choice than other materials such as iron or plastic. Though they each serve the same basic function, stainless steel trumps the other choices in terms of durability and quality.

When purchasing bird spikes, you naturally want to buy a product that will last and be the best quality possible. With stainless steel, you’re making a good purchase decision. Stainless steel is a popular choice when you want to build something to last. Here’s a few reasons why you want to consider buying a stainless steel bird spike.

Reason 1 – Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Don’t Rust

First of all, stainless steel bird spikes don’t rust whereas those made from iron do. This is an important consideration because chances are very good that you’ll want your bird spikes to last. Since rust is corrosive this means that the stainless steel product will last longer. Iron bird spikes will start to weaken because when something rusts, the iron starts to weaken. Stainless steel doesn’t have this problem.

Reason 2 – Stainless Steal Bird Spikes are Strong and Durable

One popular material for bird spikes is also plastic. However, it is important to understand that you should be wary of plastic if you are installing them it areas that are in direct sunlight all day. Stainless steel bird spikes are much better because they are a lot more durable in sunlight than plastic which can be rather flimsy when it gets hot. Plastic parts can crack and become structurally unstable with extended sun exposure over time. When you make the choice to use stainless steel bird spikes, you are buying a higher quality product.

Reason 3 – Stainless Steel Bird Spikes are Long Lasting

Another important point to make about stainless steel bird spikes is they they last a long time. We’ve already covered that they don’t rust like iron does and that they are a lot more durable than plastic. However, there are other factors to consider because in general, they just last longer than bird spikes made of other materials.

As you can see, stainless steel bird spikes are a great option and are much better over iron bird spikes and plastic bird spikes. Iron turns into rust when faced with the elements which ends up corroding the material. Plastic can break and crack fairly easily. Stainless steel is strong and durable and will last for years.

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