Bird Prevention Spikes
Two strips, both sold by the 50 cm, and how to pick between them.
A spike strip prevents a bird using a surface by taking away the footing. That is the whole mechanism, and it is worth being precise about it because most copy in this category implies something closer to a force field. Nothing is repelled, nothing is scared and nothing is hurt: the ledge simply stops working as a place to stand.
The two strips we sell
Stainless steel, €5 per 50 cm strip. Pins 1.3 mm thick and 115 mm long on a clear polycarbonate base 500 mm long, 23 mm wide and 5 mm high, protecting a band about 70 mm across with roughly 60 pins per metre. Thin, cheap and close to invisible from the ground. The pins fit into the base, which takes a minute or two per strip.
Moulded plastic, €7 per 50 cm strip. One piece with nothing to assemble, blunter and obviously present. No metal in it at all, so nothing can rust or stain a fence. The one to buy for a long boundary run, or where you want the deterrent to be seen.
Neither deters better than the other. The choice is convenience and visibility, and we would rather say that than invent a performance difference.
Working out how much you need
Measure the run in metres and double it, because a strip is 50 cm. Round up. Then look at the width: anything over about 15 cm wants two rows, one at the front edge and one at the back, or birds land behind the spikes on the part you did not cover.
Do not leave the last half metre bare because it is awkward to reach. That is where they will stand, and it is the single most common reason a spike installation disappoints.
Fixing them down
- Silicone adhesive on masonry, stone, render and tile. Outdoor grade, a bead along the whole base, weighted while it cures.
- Screws through the base holes into timber, or into plugs in masonry.
- Nails into soft timber such as a fascia.
- Cable ties on railings, pipework and fence wire, where nothing can be drilled.
Clean the surface first, whichever you use. Adhesive will not key to old droppings or moss, and a strip that lifts at one end has become a perch.
When a spike strip is the wrong product
Be honest about the bird. The 70 mm protected band suits pigeons, gulls, crows and similar. A house sparrow or a wren is small enough to sit down between pins spaced for a bird several times its weight, and on a nest site it will use them as anchor points.
If small birds are the problem, netting or a fine mesh is the answer, and we say so on the sparrow and wren pages rather than taking the order. If the birds are getting into something rather than sitting on it, a strip does not close a hole and nothing on this page will help.
Timing
Wild birds and their active nests are protected in France as across the EU. Fit spikes before the breeding season, or after the young have fledged. If you find a nest in place when you look, wait.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bird prevention spike?
A strip of blunt-ended pins on a mounting base. Fixed to a flat surface it removes the footing a bird needs, so the bird lands somewhere else.
Do the spikes hurt the bird?
No. The pins are blunt wire and the bird never really touches them: it cannot get its feet down and lifts off again.
Which of your two strips should I choose?
Stainless at €5 per 50 cm if you want it barely visible, moulded plastic at €7 if you want no assembly and do not mind it being seen.
Do they deter equally well?
Yes. The difference is convenience and visibility. We are not going to claim a performance gap that is not there.
How many pins are there?
About 60 per metre on the stainless strip, which is 20 pins and 40 points per 50 cm.
How tall are the pins?
115 mm, protecting a band about 70 mm wide.
How wide is the base?
23 mm, and 5 mm high, which is why it is hard to see from the ground.
How do I work out the quantity?
Measure the run in metres, double it because a strip is 50 cm, and round up.
What if my ledge is wider than the strip?
Over about 15 cm, fit two rows, front and back. One row and they land behind it.
What is the commonest fitting mistake?
Leaving the last half metre bare because it is awkward to reach. That is exactly where they will stand.
What do I fix them with?
Exterior silicone on masonry and stone, screws into timber or plugs, nails into a soft fascia, cable ties on railings and pipework.
Do I have to clean the surface first?
Yes. Adhesive will not key to old droppings or moss, and a strip that lifts at one end has become a perch.
Can I fit them to glass?
Yes, with a suitable exterior silicone, on glass cleaned back properly.
Will they work on a curved parapet?
The base flexes for a gentle curve. On a tight radius, cut shorter sections and fit them in series.
Can I cut the strips?
Yes. Tin snips between the pin mounts on the stainless, a knife or snips between segments on the plastic.
Which birds do they suit?
Pigeons, gulls, crows and birds of a similar size. That is what a 70 mm protected band is built for.
Which birds do they not suit?
Small ones. A sparrow or a wren settles between pins spaced for a pigeon, and on a nest site will use them as anchors. Netting is the answer there.
Do they stop birds nesting?
They stop birds using the surface they are on. They do not clear a nest already in place, and an active nest is protected by law.
When should I fit them?
Outside the breeding season, or after the young have fledged. If a nest is in place when you look, wait.
How long do they last outside?
Years. Stainless pins do not rust, including on the coast, and the base is UV stabilised.
Is there any maintenance?
Clear leaf litter and nesting material out from between the pins once or twice a year, or enough debris packs down into a platform.
Will they spoil the look of the building?
The stainless base is clear and the wire is thin, so at a few metres it is hard to pick out. The plastic strip is visible and that is sometimes what people want.
How much is delivery and how long does it take?
Free across France on orders over €35, and €15 below that. Orders are processed in 2 to 5 days and delivery takes about 10 to 18 business days, tracked from dispatch.
Which payment methods do you take?
Card and PayPal, and those are the only two. Both go through the checkout on this site.
Can I change my mind after ordering?
Yes. Fourteen days from delivery to tell us, and a further fourteen to send the goods back. Nothing here is made to a measurement, so it applies to the whole range.
What if it arrives damaged or faulty?
Tell us and we will replace or refund it. That is separate from changing your mind and it rests on the two year legal guarantee of conformity across the EU.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One strip, one disc, one roll: whatever the job needs.
Do you sell to trade?
Yes. There is a wholesale page with a quote form. Tell us the run length or the quantity.
Do you install?
No. Everything here is DIY, which is why the pages carry the fitting detail rather than a sales pitch.
How do I get hold of a person?
Email theteam@birdspikes.direct with a photograph of the surface. We answer this kind of question all day.