How to keep birds off window sills

Window Sills – Window sills are an unsightly place for the birds to perch and deposit their guano. On many occasions it will prevent you from opening the window as the smell is unbearable, particularly in the summer.

There are a few different solutions available for getting rid of birds from window sills, each is fairly easy for any DIY enthusiast to install themselves depending on the accessibilty of the ledges. Below we introduce you to the 3 most effective solutions; bird spikes, repellent gel, and bird free fire gel.

1) Using Spikes to Stop Birds on Window Ledges

Now a common sight in our towns and cities, bird spikes are an effective deterrent against birds on window sills. They come in different sizes and can be made completely from polycarbonate, or have a polycarbonate base with stainless steel spikes.

Polycarbonate – or Plastic Pigeon Spikes – are just as effective as Stainless Steel spikes, but are not quite as strong. If for example the spikes are likely to be knocked by a window cleaner we would suggest stainless steel spikes, if there is unlikely to be anything touching the spikes then plastic will suffice. However, these only come in narrow and medium and are not available for Seagull spikes.

Most spikes come in 33cm lengths but are usually sold in metre quantites (3 lengths of spike per metre purchased). To calculate the amount of spikes required you need to measure the length of the ledges from one side to the other.

Seagull Spikes

Because they have such long legs Seagull Spikes are taller than Pigeon Spikes and just come in one width size – wide. Seagull Spikes have a polycarbonate base and stainless steel spikes.

Pigeon Spikes

Pigeons, unlike Seagulls, will try to squeeze on to the narrowist of ledges, so their spikes also come in different widths. To determine which width you will need you must measure the depth of the ledge, that is from the point at which it meets the building to the far edge. Here is a guide to help you choose which width spike you will need:

Ledge Depth Spike Width

Up to 4″                Narrow Spikes

4″ – 8″                  Medium Spikes

8″ – 12″                      Wide Spikes

It is important to select the correct size, if there is insufficient coverage the pigeons will just squeeze behind or in front of the spikes – and look very smug!! In some cases it may be necessary to fix 2 rows of spikes, possibly using a combination of spike widths to ensure complete protection against birds sitting on the window ledge.

How To Fix Your Spikes

Firstly, it is important to clean and prepare the surface. There are specialist products on the market for guano clearance, these are especially useful if it is a heavily soiled area.

Method 1 – Silicone Adhesive

Silicone adhesive is a quick and easy method for securing spikes. Using a caulking gun, squeeze the silicone on to the underside of the spike base then place the strip on the surface. We recommend using a high quality silicone such as ours which has low-odour/high tack adhesion properties. This stays permanently elastic after curing, so should the birds try to land on the spikes after installation the spikes will simply move instead of cracking, resulting in a longer lasting bird repellent system.

Method 2 – Screws

There are small fixing holes along the length of the spikes enabling you to be able to use spike fixing screws without damaging the spike base.

Method 3 – Window Posts

If the ledge needing protecting has a window which opens outwards you can use window posts. Instead of attaching the spikes to the ledge they can be clipped into special posts which are fixed to the base of the window, so that as you open the window the spikes move with it.

2) Using Bird Repellent Gel to Stop Birds on Window Sills

Keep bird pests off their normal roosting areas with an application of Bird Repellent Gel, a non-toxic, sticky chemical that makes a surface tacky and uncomfortable to birds.

Using a caulking gun, simply apply the gel using a zig-zag pattern along the surface, one tube is sufficient for approximately 10 feet.

Birds avoid Bird Repellent Gel like humans avoid wet tar, resolving the problem straight away and in a very humane fashion. The transparent gel forms a skin but never sets hard, yielding an unstable surface for the birds to land on for a long time. Reapplication will be required every 6-12 months.

3) Using Bird Free Fire Gel to Stop Birds on Window Ledges

This is a revolutionary product which makes birds think the area protected is on fire. The Bird Free Fire Gel produces UV rays which look like fire to birds so deters them from landing in the area.

Small circular dishes are provided with each tube of gel. These need to be securely attached to the area using silicone adhesive before being filled with the cinnamon scented gel. The coverage required is dependant on the severity of the bird problem.

As with the transparent bird gel this solution does need maintaining. The dishes may need topping up or refilling after a time and you will need to check for debris such as leaves being caught in the dishes.

Further Help and Advice

We hope this has proven helpful for those of you having problems such as Seagulls landing on window sills and pigeons sitting on ledges. If you have any further queries or would like help and advice, call our trained team who are happy to help you get rid of birds from you window ledges.

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