Post & Wire System
OVERVIEW
The post and wire pigeon wire system is an industry-standard pigeon proofing device that is normally provided on solid flat surfaces to stop birds perching and roosting. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are used exclusively for the pigeon proofing of buildings where larger birds such as pigeons and gulls are causing problems. Post and wire pigeon wire systems used for the control of gulls require different fixings than systems used to exclude pigeons but the principle of both systems is the same. The main benefit of a post and wire pigeon wire system is that the system is virtually invisible when installed at height and viewed from ground level. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are suitable for pigeon proofing where daytime perching problems are the issue, such as ledges overlooking a regular feeding site, but should never be used in areas where birds are nesting or roosting overnight.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed onto virtually any surface that will support the vertical posts but as the integrity of the system is based on tension the foundation for the post must be solid. Post and wire pigeon wire systems are commonly installed on windowsills, ledges, ridge tiles and architectural features such as balustrades and string courses. Where the system is provided on masonry or wood, the vertical posts supporting the system would normally be installed into the surface to be protected by drilling. On surfaces such as lead flashing or bitumen where drilling is not an option, special vertical posts would be installed into a wide plastic base. The base would then be glued to the surface with a high-quality adhesive. The main disadvantage of using this method is that the adhesive must be allowed to ‘cure’ before the system is placed under tension. Curing can take a considerable time, particularly when installed in low temperatures. In temperatures below 5° C curing time can be several days. In temperatures above 5° C the product will need to be left overnight before tensioning the system. Where a post and wire pigeon wire system is considered for a Grade Listed building, permission must be sought from the Listed Buildings Officer before any works are undertaken, particularly invasive works such as drilling.
Post & Wire System
A conventional post and wire pigeon wire system comprises of a series of vertical posts installed onto (or into) the surface to be protected through which a plastic coated stainless steel wire passes at a height of between 110mm-150mm, depending on the target species. The wire is tensioned by springs which are attached to ‘anchor posts’ provided at each end of every 3 metre section. The principle of the system is that when a pigeon attempts to land on the proofed surface its feet will touch the thin steel wires making the bird feel unsafe and the landing will be aborted. The system can be used to pigeon proof ledges and flat surfaces of any dimension by providing multiple rows of the product.
Post & Wire System
A basic system would be provided with an anchor post installed at either end of each 3.0 metre span with intermediate supporting posts (guide posts) provided at intervals of no more than 1.5 metres. If a span is less than 3.0 metres an anchor post would be required at each end of the span. For spans of more than 3.0 metres the system would simply be built up in 3.0 metre sections until the entire surface is protected.
Post & Wire System
A spring is attached to each anchor post and the stainless steel wire is then connected to the spring via a nickel-plated copper crimp (or ferrule) for which a special crimping tool is required. The steel wire is then fed through the intermediate guide post (turned at a 90° angle from the anchor post) and crimped to the next spring, which is in turn hooked onto the next anchor post. Anchor posts would be positioned so that the flats of the eyelets are in line with the steel wire – this adds strength to the installation.
Post & Wire System
When installing a single row of product the ‘leading edge’ vertical post should be a multi-headed post that will allow for a secondary steel wire to be provided halfway down the vertical post. This would normally be provided to ensure that the target species cannot simply land on the leading edge of the surface to be protected and walk underneath the main wire. Where both pigeons and gulls are the target species a taller triple headed post is available. In a conventional installation, where multiple rows are required, the leading edge row would be installed with 110mm posts and the intermediate rows with 150mm posts. Spacing of the rows and posts is critical to ensure total protection is achieved. The following table indicates the rows of product that would recommended based on the depth of the area to be protected:
| Rows of Product Recommended | Depth of Coverage Required (cm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0-5 |
| 2 | 5-12 |
| 3 | 12-20 |
| 4 | 20-28 |
| 5 | 28-35 |
| 6 | 35-43 |
| 7 | 43-51 |
| 8 | 51-58 |
| 9 | 58-66 |
Row spacing is also important when installing multiple rows of product:
- Spacing between intermediate rows of product – no more than 78mm
- Spacing between leading edge row and outer edge of the surface to be protected – no more than 26mm
- Spacing between the final row and the wall (or the rear edge of surface to be protected) – no more than 26mm
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed onto wood, masonry, metal and glass surfaces and in each case a different installation is required:
Masonry:
A 26mm hole would be drilled into which a nylon anchor rivet is installed (25mm for 110mm posts and 38mm for 150mm posts). The main purpose of the anchor rivet is to keep water from entering the drilled hole. The vertical post is then installed into the anchor rivet. Once the vertical post has been seated into the anchor rivet a bead of silicone should be provided at the point where the steel post joins the anchor rivet to ensure water cannot enter the drilled hole. For a vertical application (window reveals, vertical stonework or ends of ledges) split pins can be inserted into the anchor rivet instead of a vertical post.
Wood:
A special ‘nail point’ vertical post would normally be used in woodwork. The ‘nail point’ post is a standard vertical post with a pointed nail-like head which would be hammered into place in the same way that a conventional nail would be hammered into a piece of wood. In order to stop the wood splitting a small guide hole should be drilled prior to inserting the post. The product can also be installed by using a nylon rivet as per a masonry installation. If using a ‘stick-on’ post with a flat plastic base the post can be screwed or nailed into place.
Metal:
For installation into metal a ‘stick-on’ post would be used. The post would be positioned and the holes in the plastic base marked on the metal surface. Small guide holes would then be drilled and self-tapping screws (metal screws) would be screwed into place securing the post in position.
Glass:
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed directly onto glass and for this installation stick-on posts would be used with an appropriate adhesive.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can also be used to pigeon proof the ridge tiles on a roof and for this purpose a special ridge-mounting bracket is required. Two different types of bracket are available depending on what shape ridge tile is to be proofed: a triangular ridge bracket and a half-round ridge bracket. Both brackets come with posts already mounted and installation is undertaken by use of an adhesive or by screwing in place using the mounting holes on the bracket. Steel wire is then passed through the eyes of the posts and attached to springs mounted on the ‘anchor’ brackets at each end of the span. Two sizes of bracket are available depending on the target species: 110mm brackets would be used for the control of pigeons and 150mm brackets for the control of gulls.
Post & Wire System
Post and wire pigeon wire systems can be installed as aDIY installation and the product is available in kit form or as individual parts. Although the system may appear to be relatively simple and straightforward to provide, installation does require more advanced DIY skills as well as an understanding of how the target species will react and respond to the system once installed. It is possible to cause serious damage to the surface upon which the system is installed if installation is undertaken without fully understanding the risks. Even experienced contractors can sometimes cause very considerable damage to a building when installing the product if care is not taken during the installation process. It is therefore essential to follow manufacturer’s instructions to the letter.
DEFRA’s view:
Post & Wire System
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the UK’s Government body that oversees the Wildlife and Countryside Act and produces legislation to which the pest control industry must adhere. The following information is taken from a document provided on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’. By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
“Pigeon proofing with a thin wire over the perch, which prevents the bird from landing is probably the simplest method. The wire should be low enough that the bird cannot stand under it, but also high enough to prevent the bird from straddling it (Johnson 2002). If a variety of bird species are to be deterred from the same perch, a series of wires at different heights should help to meet the above criteria for all species. White wires deterred pigeons from perching on stadium ledges (Andelt and Burnham 1993). Up to three lines were placed in front of the ledges and at different heights above the ledges. Short-term success was good.”
“All these designs (anti-perching products) may help to deter perching birds but their success is dependent on all perches being treated to discourage birds from the area.”
Price range:
Post & Wire System
All the fixtures and fittings required to undertake a tailor-made post and wire pigeon wire installation are available as separate items and normally sold in quantity (i.e. packs of 100 vertical posts). For the purpose of this review we will look at the price of installation kits rather than the price of individual fixtures and fittings. The following installation kits are available from a leading UK supplier of pest control products:
Masonry post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for pigeons: £127.18 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 30 metres:
Pigeon Wire x 100m
Pigeon Post 130mm Single Head x 30
Pigeon Post 130mm Twin Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Nickel Crimps x 200
Masonry Rivets x 60
Screw Pin & Plug x 10
Crimp Tool x 1
6.6mm Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit x 1
Surface mount post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for pigeons: £154.48 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 30 metres:
Pigeon Wire x 100m
Pigeon Post 130mm Single Head x 30
Pigeon Post 95mm Single Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Nickel Crimps x 200
Surface Mount Bases x 60
Crimp Tool x 1
Surface Activator 500ml x 1
Silicone Adhesive 300ml x 1
Masonry post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for gulls: £169.23 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 180 metres:
Gull Wire x 200m
Gull Post 180mm Single Head x 30
Micro Springs x 100
Copper Crimps x 200
Masonry Rivets x 60
Screw Pin & Plug x 10
Crimp Tool x 1
6.5mm Straight Shank Masonry Drill Bit x 1
Surface mount post and wire pigeon wire pigeon proofing kit for gulls: £202.68 inc. VAT
This kit includes the following items and is sufficient to install a double run of wire on a surface of up to 180-metres:
Gull Wire x 200m
Gull Post 150mm Single Head x 60
Micro Springs x 100
Copper Crimps x 200
Surface Mount Bases x 60
Crimp Tool x 1
Surface Activator 500ml x 1
Silicone Adhesive 300ml x 1
User reviews:
To date we have been unable to find any user reviews for post and wire pigeon wire systems but we will update this section as and when user reviews are made available to us. If you are able to provide a user review for post and wire pigeon wire systems please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Comments from the Manufacturer/Distributor:
To date we have been unable to find any manufacturer comments about post and wire pigeon wire systems other than basic descriptions of the product. If you are a manufacturer or distributor/retailer of this product and can provide a view please contact the Pigeon Control Resource Centre.
Editorial comments:
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is used extensively for the control of both pigeons and gulls and is considered to be an industry standard pigeon proofing method. The product is not suitable for the control of smaller birds or for use in areas where breeding is taking place and therefore the product is considerably less versatile than other anti-perching products. The main advantage of the post and wire system is that it is a low profile product and as a result, is ideal for use where aesthetics are an issue such as the frontage of a historic building.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is relatively complex to install based on the various installation options and also because the product will almost certainly need be installed at height. The product is available in kit form for a more basic DIY installation or, for a more complex DIY or tailor-made installation, the various fixtures and fittings can be sourced individually. Professionally fitted systems can be extremely expensive because installation is labour intensive, particularly where stick-on posts and adhesives are used. In some cases this may require the contractor to stop work for up to 2 days whilst the adhesive is ‘curing’ and then return to finish the installation.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is an extremely expensive option relative to many other anti-perching systems and although the product is low profile and virtually invisible from the ground when installed at height, these are probably the only two positive aspects of the system. On narrow surfaces where very light pressure pigeon-related problems are being experienced and where access is simple and easy, the product can be effective and relatively straightforward to install. For more extensive areas, such as long wide spans of parapet where multiple rows of product are required, post and wire pigeon wire systems are prohibitively expensive relative to products such as the anti-roosting spike.
Post & Wire System
The post and wire pigeon wire system is renowned for failing, in some cases only days after installation. This is generally due to poor quality installations. It is common to see a row of upright posts installed on a building with steel wires hanging from them – this is normally because the posts have collapsed inwards and the springs have become detached from the posts as a result. In some cases the copper crimps have not been sufficiently tightened so that when the system has been placed under tension, or when a bird lands in the centre of a span of wire, the wire has become detached from the springs rendering the system ineffective. Either way the result is that the system will have to be repaired or replaced. If the system has been installed at height the cost of access alone can be extremely high with the cost of labour and parts on top. If stick-on posts have been used the system is even more vulnerable to collapse as the contact point on the base of the stick-on pad is extremely small relative to the height of the wire. When a large bird such as a herring gull lands halfway between two stick-on posts it is almost certain that the two vertical posts either side will collapse inwards. Even an adult pigeon can have this effect. Once one section of the system has collapsed the integrity of the whole system is compromised and diminished, with repair or replacement being the only option.
Post & Wire System
Another more serious problem associated with post and wire pigeon wire systems is the potential for damage to the fabric of the building upon which the system is installed. Where a system is provided on masonry, and where posts are installed by drilling and fixing, it is essential that the hole into which the post is seated is filled with silicone once the post has been installed. The reason for this is to stop rainwater building up within the hole. Some contractors fail to backfill holes and the results can be extreme. Once water seeps into the post hole and freezes, the ice will expand and can crack the masonry around it with serious implications. The following examples confirm the dangers inherent in poorly installed post and wire pigeon wire systems:
- In the city of Cambridge a famous university listed building had been experiencing minor pigeon-related problems on the frontage of the building. A national pest control contractor was called in for advice and recommended a post and wire pigeon wire system. The system was installed to narrow ledges and architectural features across the frontage of the building. Soon after the system had been installed, crumbling masonry was found on the busy pavement area below the building. It would appear that the masonry had cracked either because the post holes had been drilled too close to the leading edge of the ledge concerned or because the holes had not been backfilled with silicone and water had frozen and expanded within the holes. Whichever the case, the potential for serious injury to those using the pavement below was considerable and the cost of an invisible masonry repair to a listed building cannot be discounted either.
- In the town of Solihull, West Midlands, a large Council-owned Victorian building in the town centre was pigeon-proofed with an extensive post and wire pigeon wire system to all windowsills and architectural features. The system was recommended by an established pest control contractor. The wide windowsills and architectural features were protected with numerous rows of post and wire pigeon wires. Although the system appeared to have been installed correctly, retaining the aesthetics of the building as a result, the system failed dramatically during a period of sub-zero temperatures. Drilled post holes had not been backfilled with silicone and water had built up within the holes. When the water froze large chunks of masonry cracked and fell to busy pavement areas below. Not only did this represent a serious threat to human life but the damage done to the building was serious and expensive to repair. The system also failed to resolve many of the perching-related problems for which it was first installed.
Post & Wire System
It is clear from these examples that the post and wire pigeon wire system is far more vulnerable to failure than many other anti-perching systems. The system is not only expensive to install when using a specialist contractor but even where a DIY installation is concerned, the cost of raw materials alone can be prohibitive certainly relative to other anti-perching devices. For wide surfaces or for the protection of extensive areas, the post and wire pigeon wire system cannot be considered to be a cost-effective anti-perching product. The potential for damage to the building upon which the system is installed is considerable and the potential for the system to fail due to wires becoming detached or posts collapsing inwards is also a very real concern.
Post & Wire System
In the majority of cases where a post and wire pigeon wire system is considered, a system using anti-roosting spikes would not only offer a comparable low visibility option but the spike-based system would cost considerably less than that of a post and wire pigeon wire system. This is because a standard row of 4-point spikes will protect an area of up to 200mm wide and yet to protect an equivalent area using a post and wire pigeon wire system would require a minimum of 3/4 rows of product. The cost of 30 metres of top quality stainless steel anti-roosting spikes (including adhesive) would be in the region of £179.00 inc. VAT. The cost of protecting the same area with a stick-on post and wire pigeon wire system, using the product in kit form, would be approximately £309 inc. VAT. Installation costs for a post and wire pigeon wire system would also be significantly higher than an equivalent anti-roosting spike system with the spike system lasting in excess of 25 years before requiring replacement.
Sources:
DEFRA quotes:
PDF on DEFRA website entitled: ‘Review of international research regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives’ By J Bishop, H McKay, D Parrott and J Allan.
Post & Wire System
Also commonly known as:
Spring wire systems, pigeon wire, bird wire, gull wire
Relevance to pigeon control:
The post and wire pigeon wire system is a pigeon-specific anti-perching product
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)