Introduction: DIY Bird Spikes
Under my deck, I have had a problem with Robins (and perhaps other birds) building nests in the rafters. Personally, I don't mind it were it not for them getting very "protective" and accordingly getting very "swoopy." So, I decided to install bird spikes. It's an easy deterrent against birds as it simply makes the area in question undesirable. From what I found, it's about $30 for 10 lin. feet. Considering I needed around 30 feet of spikes, this is very pricey.
This Instructable is to show how to create a set of bird spikes. Note, if only a few spikes are needed, this might not be the best method. Nails through a strip of wood seems to be another common method and it does not require the purchase of a lot of fencing material.
This Instructable is to show how to create a set of bird spikes. Note, if only a few spikes are needed, this might not be the best method. Nails through a strip of wood seems to be another common method and it does not require the purchase of a lot of fencing material.
Step 1: Gather Materials
Gather the following materials:
Galvanized 2"x3" 16-gauge fencing material (I used vinyl coated galv.)
Roofing nails (galvanized, 1-1/4" should be fine)
Fence clipper or wire cutter
Needle-nose pliers (angled work best)
Hammer
Work gloves (not necessary, but handy)
It's critical that the fencing material is made of a material that won't rust. Even if it's coated, the material should be galvanized steel or stainless-steel as cutting the material will break the coating. Also, it should be a minimum 16-gauge wire.
Galvanized 2"x3" 16-gauge fencing material (I used vinyl coated galv.)
Roofing nails (galvanized, 1-1/4" should be fine)
Fence clipper or wire cutter
Needle-nose pliers (angled work best)
Hammer
Work gloves (not necessary, but handy)
It's critical that the fencing material is made of a material that won't rust. Even if it's coated, the material should be galvanized steel or stainless-steel as cutting the material will break the coating. Also, it should be a minimum 16-gauge wire.
Step 2: Cut Fencing Material (Style-A)
Orient the fencing material so that the axis with 2" spacing runs down the center of the spikes; the 3" wires will become the spikes. Cut the fencing on both sides to create the spikes.
Step 3: Cut Fencing Material (Style-B)
An alternate style yields another level of spikes that might be beneficial for some applications.
Step 4: Create the Nail Holes
Take the needle-nose pliers and bend the central wire around the pliers 360 degrees. Repeat for all desired nail-points. If a narrow spacing is desired, create a "turn" between every pair of spikes.
Step 5: Nail the Strip Down
Using the roofing nails, attach the strips to the desired surface.
Step 6: Bend Spikes
After the strips are installed, bend the wire to create the spikes. Alternate the bends between a "wide-vee" and a "narrow-vee" (see second diagram).
Step 7: Step Back and Marvel at the Savings.
Hopefully this process ended up saving money. And if it didn't, hopefully some useful tools were purchased! Good luck!