Bird control spikes are a great way to keep wild birds out of places that you want free and clear of bird nests and droppings. Here's all you need to know about bird control spikes.

What are bird control spikes?

Bird control spikes are little spikes that stand in the air and are attached to your drain, gutter or other landing areas to keep wild birds away from your home. Bird control spikes usually have spikes on both the left and right side of the device and, though they point into the air, they cross over each other so the bird cannot land in the blocked off area.

Are bird control spikes harmful to the birds?

In a word, no. Bird control spikes are actually a very humane way to get rid of the birds that are driving you crazy. The word "spike" does sound kind of ominous and creates a visual of the poor little creature getting poked, but that's not actually what happens.

The bird sees that its landing strip is disrupted and then turns away from the area and lands somewhere else. Bird control spikes are usually made out of plastic and stainless steel. They are not toxic to the birds and they do not harm them.

Bird control spikes are much more humane than other bird control devises. Some people use shock systems to keep birds away from certain areas. Though the shocks don't kill the birds, they do hurt the bird for a brief moment, which many people find to be a cruel means to keeping birds away from an area.

Why would I ever need bird control spikes?

Bird control spikes are an inexpensive, permanent solution to keeping birds out of areas that you don't want them in. Bird control spikes are great for gutters, which birds frequently use as a holding place for their nests. When a bird sets up shop in a gutter, the material it uses to create the nest can clog your gutters. This can cause your gutters to back up, droop or even bend.

Bird control spikes are also great if you frequently get a backload of bird droppings on your patio or the side of your house. Birds leave droppings in an area when they're just hanging out. To keep them from hanging out, keep them from landing in that area and the droppings will disappear.

Bird control spikes are also great to place on other flat landing areas. Some good places to use bird control spikes include conduits, ledges and parapet walls.