How to Keep Birds Off a Deck Railing

Your deck should be a place where you can feel relaxed and happy no matter what. 

While birds can be a joy to have around, if they are congregating on your deck railing, it can be uncomfortable. This is especially true if they are pooping all over your deck and ruining the finish. 

Most people want to keep birds away but they want to make sure they are kept safe. 

Fortunately, there are methods you can use to keep birds away that are animal-friendly. 

Keeping Birds Off a Deck Railing: Basic Idea

There are quite a few ways to keep birds off your deck railing. Unfortunately, not all of them are humane or safe for your pets and other animals. 

A few of the safest and most effective methods are: 

• Move feeders

• Trim your hedges

• Hang shiny or bright objects

• Hang fishing line 

• Install decoys 

Why Keep Birds Off a Deck Railing? 

Birds can be great to have in your backyard, but they can also be a nuisance. 

One of the reasons you might not want birds on your deck railing is the noise. Many kinds of birds are exceptionally loud and can be a real disturbance in your yard. 

You may also not want birds on your deck railing because of the mess they can make. 

Unfortunately, birds tend to poop wherever they sit and this includes your deck. They may also bring trash and vegetation with them, which can scatter all over your yard. 

Move Bird Feeders

If you have bird feeders in your yard, make sure they are in the appropriate place. 

Keep any bird feeders away from your deck and out in the yard. This will prevent them from sitting on your railing and making noise or messes. 

Anywhere you put a bird feeder is where birds will end up congregating. 

Trim Hedges 

The best way to keep birds away from your deck railing is to keep your hedges and vegetation trimmed. 

Birds will build nests wherever they can find a good, safe space. This includes any trees or hedges around your deck and keeping them trimmed can prevent this. 

Hang Shiny Objects

One little-known fact about birds is that they don’t like shiny objects. 

If you hang shiny objects like mirrors or glass around your deck, it will keep birds away. They are disoriented by the spinning and the lights and will stay far from the railing. 

One of the benefits of this method is that it can enhance the look of your deck. 

Use Fishing Line 

The fishing line method is a great way to keep birds away without harming them. 

To use this method, string a length of fishing line between railing posts. Make sure the line is 2-3 inches up off the railing for it to be effective. 

Birds will try to land on the railing but they won’t be able to get a good grip. After a while, they will learn that it is not an ideal place to land and will look for another option. 

Install Statues 

Birds are incredibly smart and they can recognize images much better than we give them credit for. 

One way to keep birds off your deck is to put up statues of predatory birds. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What scent do birds hate?

Birds are incredibly sensitive to essential oils. 

Peppermint, lemongrass, and eucalyptus are especially effective. You can spread these oils around your deck to keep the birds away. 

Do wind chimes keep birds away?

Birds don’t like loud noises or spinning metal objects. Because of this, it stands to reason that they won’t like wind chimes. 

However, wind chimes are not as loud or shiny as they should be and may not be as effective. 

Does tin foil keep birds away?

Birds do not like the feel of tin foil on their feet or beaks. This makes it a good repellent if you want to spread it onto your deck railing. 

The issue with this method, though, is that it affects the look of your deck. 

Conclusion 

If you are dealing with a bird issue, you probably want to remove them as quickly as possible. There are many methods you can use that are both effective and humane.

By trying some of the above techniques, you can keep birds away without harming them.