Homemade Bird Spikes

Roofs, ledges and high porch railings are all very attractive places to rest for pigeons and other unwanted birds. When the birds alight on your home, they tend to leave a mess behind and ruin the exterior of your house. Bird spikes are sold in stores and by exterminators to keep birds away by providing an unwelcoming landing for them. The spikes deter the birds from landing, because they don't want to hurt themselves. These devices are simple in construction--you can make your own without spending a lot of money on store-bought ones.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-by-3-inch wood
  • Saw
  • Nail gun
  • 6-inch nails
  • Power drill
  • Screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a length of 2-by-3 with a saw to the length of the area you want to protect. If you have a ledge you want to protect and it is 36 inches long, you should cut the wood to 36 inches.

    • 2

      Hold the wood up vertically so the 3-inch side is facing you and insert a nail at the topmost edge on the face of the wood. Use a nail gun filled with 6-inch nails and insert the nail so it is perpendicular to the piece of wood.

    • 3

      Drive another nail into the wood, to the left of the first nail but insert this nail at an angle. The point of the nail should point up and to the left and make a 45-degree angle with the wood.

    • 4

      Insert another nail to the right of the nail in the center. This nail should also be at a 45-degree angle, but the point should point up and to the right. Make sure the nails form a "V" shape, with an "I" in the middle. This is a full set of spikes.

    • 5

      Continue making sets of spikes, placing each set 2 inches apart until the entire piece of wood is filled with spikes.

    • 6

      Lay the wood on top of the area to be protected. The points of the nails should be facing up.

    • 7

      Drill through the wood at each end to secure the piece in place. Use a power drill and screws to make a secure connection.