Bird Spikes are the perfect way to prevent large birds such as gulls and pigeons from landing on ledges, beams, and other surfaces on your property.
Pest Solutions installs bird spikes across the UK as part of our professional pest bird control service.
Whether you’re dealing with feral pigeons fouling a commercial parapet, seagulls nesting on a hotel roof, or starlings gathering along the eaves of a domestic property, the right spike design will deter birds from the area without harming them.
For more information on bird deterrent spikes, contact our trusted team today.
Bird spikes as effective and humane bird control
The word “spike” can sometimes give the wrong impression.
Bird spikes are designed as blunt stainless steel wires mounted onto a flexible polycarbonate base, with the product engineered for preventing birds from landing on a surface without injuring them.
The wires have rounded ends, the polycarbonate base is lightweight, UV-stable, and rot-proof, and the whole system is engineered to be entirely humane.
A bird approaching a ledge fitted with spikes can’t find anywhere to spread its feet, so it’s forced to take off again uninjured.
There’s a persistent myth that bird spikes injure birds. They don’t.
Both the RSPB and the British Pest Control Association accept spikes as an appropriate bird deterrent method, and correctly fitted spike systems have been used on listed buildings, public monuments, and sensitive sites across the UK for years without incident.
Pigeons approach, realise the ledge isn’t a safe perch, and choose another roost.
Which pest birds do bird spikes deter
Bird spikes are most often specified to deter pest birds like pigeons and seagulls, but a well-chosen product is highly effective against a wider range of species.
The bird spikes are designed around the body size of the target bird, so choosing the right tool for the species matters.
Birds commonly deterred include:
- Feral pigeons and wood pigeons
- Herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and other seagull species
- Starlings gathering in communal roosts
- Crows, jackdaws, and magpies
- Collared doves
There’s one limitation to be aware of.
Standard pigeon spikes are sized around the body width of a pigeon, so smaller birds like sparrows and house martins can sometimes pick their way between the pins to perch on the ledge behind.
Our team will always survey your site to fully assess what you’re dealing with. Where multiple species are involved, we’ll build an integrated strategy that addresses each one effectively.
Different types of bird spikes and pigeon spikes
Not every ledge is the same, and the wide range of bird spikes available on the market reflects that.
Picking the right type matters.
The main types of bird spikes we install on a typical property are stainless steel, polycarbonate, and specialist formats for specific features.
Stainless steel bird spikes
Standard stainless steel bird spikes are the most widely installed type and the default choice for most commercial, industrial, and domestic jobs.
The wires themselves are stainless steel, mounted onto a flexible polycarbonate base that follows the contours of uneven surfaces like stone, brick, and textured render.
Stainless steel are resistant to rust.
This allows them to handles UK weather without degrading, and a quality system typically lasts 10 to 15 years outdoors.
For large pigeon infestations or gull-heavy sites where the birds push hard against the deterrent, heavy-duty stainless steel spikes with a thicker gauge wire are the sensible specification.
Polycarbonate bird spikes
Polycarbonate bird spikes are moulded from UV-stabilised plastic in a single piece, base and spikes together.
They’re lighter, cheaper, and less visible than steel. But the trade-off is that they aren’t as durable when compared to stainless steel.
Cheap, non-stabilised plastic spikes can become brittle in direct sunlight and start to snap within a couple of years. That’s why we use UV-stabilised polycarbonate products, which are far tougher and longer lasting.
For a more discreet option, we can guide you through whether our high-quality UV-stabilised polycarbonate is the right choice for you.
Narrow, standard, and wide spikes
Bird spike widths vary from around 45mm for narrow, for windowsills, pipes, and cable trays, up to 170mm for extra-wide, for deep parapets and flat roof edges.
The right width depends on the width of the ledge.
Spikes need to cover enough of the surface that the bird can’t step over them and find an uncovered strip behind.
We will fully measure your site to make sure the right spike width is specified for every ledge, edge, and surface.
Chimney pot spikes and specialist products
Purpose-built chimney pot spikes sit inside or on top of chimney pots to stop jackdaws and pigeons from nesting inside the flue.
Pipe and conduit spikes wrap around cylindrical surfaces. Gutter spikes clip onto the lip of the gutter rather than relying on adhesive. Rail-mounted spikes fit onto fence rails, railings, and steel beams.
For almost any unusual feature where a bird could land, we have a spike format designed to fit it.
Where bird spikes are installed
Bird spikes can be fitted almost anywhere a pest bird is trying to land, roost, or nest.
The flexible polycarbonate base bends to follow curved surfaces, and the base attaches to most substrates using the correct adhesive, mechanical fixings, or clips.
Common installation locations include:
- Stone and concrete ledges on commercial and industrial buildings
- Windowsills on residential, office, and retail properties
- Guttering, fascia boards, and soffits where birds roost along the roofline
- Pipes, downpipes, and conduit runs
- Chimney pots, chimney stacks, and flues
- Railings, fences, garden walls, and gates
- Parapets, copings, and exposed wall tops
- Signage, light fittings, CCTV housings, and aerial brackets
- Pergolas, summer houses, and other garden structures
During your free site survey, we will assess your bird activity, concerns, and property features to recommend the most effective solution for the job.
Less visible alternatives
Bird spikes are highly cost-effective and dependable at deterring birds from landing.
For heritage and listed buildings where appearance matters, spikes may not always be the preferred choice.
In these instances, our bird wire or Bird Free gel can achieve the same result far more discreetly.
Are bird spikes legal in the UK?
Bird spikes are legal across the UK.
All wild birds, their nests, and their eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This means you can’t kill, injure, or take a protected bird without an appropriate licence.
Spikes do none of those things.
They stop birds from landing in the first place, and deterrence is legally distinct from disturbance.
Only two situations call for care.
If birds are already nesting on a ledge or in a chimney, you can’t fit spikes until the chicks have fledged and the nest is no longer in use, because disturbing an active nest is an offence.
And if you’re fitting spikes onto a boundary fence or shared wall, it’s worth a conversation with your neighbour first to avoid any potential disagreements.
Why prevent birds from landing on your property
Bird droppings
Bird droppings are acidic and attack stonework, painted surfaces, roof coverings, and metalwork over time.
Guano build-up on walkways creates slip hazards and poses a public health risk because of the bacteria and fungi that grow in dried bird waste.
Impact of roosting on ledges
Nesting material blocks gutters and downpipes.
This can lead to damp penetration and water damage to the building below.
Commercial implications of bird activity
If you own a business or a commercial site, visible pest bird activity affects how customers, tenants, and visitors perceive the property.
Birds are particularly problematic for food processing or hospitality premises. They can even trigger audit failures if the situation isn’t being handled correctly.
Keeping birds off the ledges in the first place avoids all of that.
How we install bird spikes
There is a process to correctly installing bird spikes on a property. And with Pest Solutions over 24 years of trusted industry experience, we have it down completely.
Free survey
We visit the property, identify the pest bird species, map the perching and roosting sites, and recommend the right type of spike (or combination of methods) for each area.
For sites with complex problems, our surveyors give expert advice on any other bird proofing that would help.
Guano cleaning
Existing droppings and nesting material are cleaned and disinfected before any hardware goes on.
This is important for three reasons.
Bird fouling is acidic and will damage building surfaces if left untreated. It can also attract secondary pest infestations. Finally, the scent from guano can draw new birds back to the same ledge even after the original flock has gone.
We always take the preparation part seriously for lasting protection.
Installation
Spikes are fixed to the surface with the appropriate adhesive, clipped into gutters, or mechanically screwed depending on the substrate.
The flexible polycarbonate base follows curves and uneven stone.
All work at height is carried out from scaffold, cherry picker, or mobile elevating work platform, by technicians who carry IPAF and PASMA certification.
Final inspection
Every run is inspected before we leave to confirm the coverage is complete, the spikes are seated flat, and the fixings are secure.
The installation is guaranteed, and we’ll return to correct any issues within the first year at no charge.
For easy, long-lasting installations, we are the team for you!
Get your free bird spike survey with Pest Solutions
If pigeons, seagulls, or other pest birds are fouling your property and you want a long-term solution, bird spikes are a reliable, humane, cost-effective deterrent.
With Pest Solutions’ years of trusted industry experience and versatile bird deterrent and proofing methods available, you can feel confident that you are always getting the best solution on the market.
We fit spikes, wire, netting, gel, and other bird deterrent systems on domestic and commercial sites across the UK. We’ll always be honest and recommend whether spikes are right for your building or whether a different approach would work better.
To learn more about our services, give our friendly team a call today on 0800 027 2555 or contact us online to arrange your free survey.
