Defender® Wide Plastic Pigeon Spikes are easy and simple to install. If you have safe access to the area needing protection most people can do the installation easily themselves. We recommend using Defender® Bird Spike Fixing Silicone to attach the strips to the ledge, it is quick, easy, and will firmly fix the spikes into place. However, screws, nails, or cable ties can be used as an alternative.
Step 1 - Clean the Area: Make sure the area you are installing on is clean, dry, and has no loose dirt or debris. If a pigeon has already been nesting or roosting it may be heavily soiled with bird droppings. If this is the case please see our
"How to safely clean bird droppings guide" guide for more in-depth details.
Step 2 - Fixing Methods: Defender® Bird Spike Fixing Silicone is the recommended way to fix our bird spikes on most surfaces. It is quick, easy, and gives a strong hold for years. However, the spikes can also be held in place using cable ties, screws or nails using the small holes already along the base.
Step 3 - Silicone: You will need a caulking gun (not provided) to use Defender® Silicone. Pull the trigger to squeeze a bead of silicone about 8 mm wide along the base of the spike. If the surface you are installing on is uneven you may need to use a little more. Always check the suitability of surfaces for use with Defender® Silicone. For more information, please visit the product page
Defender® Bird Spike Fixing Silicone. If you do not have a
caulking gun we have them available to purchase and we also have a handy guide on
"How to use a Caulking Gun Guide" if you haven't used one before.
Step 4 - Positioning: When you have decided where to install the wide bird spikes, apply the silicone and push them down firmly into place. Along the base are 10 cross-shaped holes. When the pigeon spikes are pressed onto a ledge, the silicone oozes through the holes forming cross-shaped rivets that lock the spike into position. Of course, these holes are ideal to use if the bird spike is to be screwed or nailed – this can be useful if the surface is curved, as the silicone may need a bit of extra support until it cures. The wide plastic base is flexible along the length, this means it can be fitted along a curved surface if required.
Step 5 - Full Protection: Repeat the process until the area is fully protected. Every effort should be made to spike all possible landing sites 2.5cm or greater. Along the base of the wide plastic bird spike are breakable sections that can simply be snapped apart with your fingers. This means the anti-roosting pigeon spike can easily be adjusted to fit the length of your ledge perfectly, making installation quick and easy as you require no extra tools.
Step 6 – Cavities and Raised Sections: Pigeons can be very possessive of their chosen nesting or roosting sites. If there is a cavity, hole, or raised section above the ledge being protected, every effort should be made to protect this too. If there is a hole behind the area, make sure this is blocked and no pigeons are trapped behind.