Bird Free gel is a small, low-profile dish that sits on the ledge or surface you want to protect from unwanted bird activity.
It is virtually invisible from ground level, and at just 8mm in height, most people will never notice it’s there. But your nuisance bird population will.
Pest Solutions installs Bird Free gel systems across the UK as part of our professional pest bird control service.
If you need an unobtrusive bird deterrent that works on all species, causes no harm, requires no maintenance, and won’t alter the appearance of your building, Bird Free gel is worth considering.
Contact our friendly team to find out more about our bird control methods.
How Bird Free gel works
Bird Free gel uses a multi-sensory approach to deter birds from landing.
Unlike spikes or wire, which create a physical barrier, the gel works by triggering the birds’ visual and olfactory (smell) senses simultaneously.
Visual deterrent
Not everyone knows this, but birds see ultraviolet light that humans can’t.
Bird Free fire gel dishes are formulated to reflect UV light in a way that birds perceive as flames.
When the gel dishes are spaced along a ledge, the UV reflection makes it appear to the birds as though the entire surface is on fire. Their instinct is to stay well away from the perceived danger, so they avoid the area entirely.
To a person looking up from the street, the dishes are barely visible.
But to a pigeon or gull looking down, the ledge appears to be burning.
Scent deterrent
The gel also gives off a peppermint scent that birds find deeply unpleasant but that is undetectable to humans.
The combination of the alarming UV appearance and the off-putting smell makes the gel a highly effective dual deterrent.
Even birds that might be bold enough to investigate the visual effect are repelled by the scent before they get close enough to land or claim a nesting site.
Touch deterrent
In the rare event that a bird does make contact with the gel, the sticky texture is uncomfortable on their feet.
The feel of the gel is another signal to the bird that this is not a safe landing site, and they leave immediately.
The gel is entirely non-toxic and causes no harm to the bird. It simply makes the surface unpleasant enough that the bird chooses to roost elsewhere.
Where to install Bird Free gel
Bird Free gel can be installed on almost any flat or narrow surface where pest birds are landing, perching, or roosting.
It’s particularly well suited to buildings where traditional bird proofing methods (spikes, netting, wire) would be visible, unsightly, or impractical.
Common installation locations include:
- Stone and concrete ledges on heritage and listed buildings
- Window sills, parapets, and cornices on commercial properties
- Hotel facades, restaurant frontages, and retail shopfronts
- Railway stations and transport infrastructure
- Airport buildings and hangars
- Bridges and elevated structures
- Signage brackets and lighting housings
- Any parapet or ledge where appearance matters
The gel is invisible from ground level and doesn’t alter the building’s appearance in any way.
For listed buildings and conservation areas where planning consent would be needed for spikes or netting, Bird Free gel is often the only deterrent option that gets approved because there’s nothing visible to object to.
Bird Free gel works indoors and outdoors.
It can be used inside warehouses, covered walkways, and roof spaces as well as on external ledges and facades.
Which bird species does Bird Free gel deter?
Bird Free gel works on all pest bird species because the UV and scent deterrents trigger instinctive avoidance behaviour that’s common across birds.
The makes the system effective against:
- Feral pigeons
- Herring gulls and seagulls
- Lesser black-backed gulls
- Starlings
- Crows and jackdaws
- House sparrows
This is one of the advantages Bird Free gel has over some other deterrent methods.
Spikes work well against pigeons but smaller birds like sparrows can sometimes perch between the pins. Wire works on ledges but doesn’t cover open surfaces.
Bird Free gel deters birds from landing on any treated surface regardless of species or size, because the visual and scent signals affect all of them.
Scale of pest bird infestation
Bird Free gel is an effective deterrent for light, medium, and heavy bird pressures.
The key factor for dealing with any type of bird pressure using bird free gel is the spacing of the disks. For lower pressures such as day roosting or night roosting, the disks can be spaced further apart, whereas for heavier pressures and nesting sites, the disks will be closer together.
Our team will also thoroughly clean the surface of your buildings or structures to remove guano, empty nests, and the pheromones birds use to identify their home territory.
This gives your property, public space, or commercial site the best chance of keeping them away for good.
How long does Bird Free gel last?
Bird Free gel is formulated to be durable and weather-resistant.
Once installed, the gel remains effective for up to five years before it needs replacing, even in harsh outdoor conditions.
Rain, snow, frost, and direct sunlight don’t degrade the active properties of the gel, and it continues to reflect UV light and release its scent deterrent throughout its lifespan.
The dishes are designed to be left undisturbed once installed.
There’s no need to top up, reapply, or maintain the gel during its working life.
After the gel has reached the end of its effective period, the dishes are simply replaced with fresh ones.
For an extremely low-maintenance bird deterrent, bird free gel dishes is a great solution.
Installation of Bird Free gel
Bird Free gel is easily applied but needs to be positioned correctly to deliver consistent results.
The dishes are spaced at set intervals along the surface, with the spacing determined by the width of the ledge, the species being deterred, and the level of infestation.
The dishes can be fixed to the surface using adhesive pads or strong magnets (for metal structures like bridges, steel beams, and metal signage).
Both methods are non-destructive and leave no permanent marks on the building when the gel is eventually replaced.
Before installation, any existing bird droppings and nesting material need to be cleaned from the surface.
The gel works by preventing birds from landing, but if there’s already an established colony with active nests, the birds need to be cleared and the area decontaminated before the gel goes on.
We handle the cleaning and decontamination as part of every Bird Free gel installation.
Is Bird Free fire gel humane bird control?
Yes. Bird Free gel is a completely humane bird repellent gel.
It works by warning birds away without harming them. The UV reflection, the scent, and the sticky texture are all deterrents that discourage landing.
No bird is trapped, injured, or poisoned.
The gel is non-toxic and has been independently tested to confirm it’s safe for birds, other wildlife, and humans.
In the rare event that a bird does touch the gel, it simply finds the experience unpleasant and flies away. There’s no lasting effect.
The bird is unharmed and will avoid the treated area in future, which is exactly the outcome the system is designed to achieve.
Get in touch to learn more about bird repellent gel
If you’re dealing with a pest bird problem and you need a bird deterrent that’s invisible, humane, and long-lasting, Bird Free gel could be the answer.
Pest Solutions has been solving pest and bird control problems across the country for over two decades. We stay up to date with industry best practices and hold all the necessary training and certifications to work safely at height.
For every bird job, we start with a free site survey, give you honest advice on whether Bird Free gel is the right solution for your situation, and carry out a professional installation if it is.
Contact our pest control team on 0800 027 2555 or online to arrange your free survey.
