Bird control: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering bird control

Bird control combines the right deterrent with clean installation and cleanup, and the work is only as good as the coverage it gives. Your value is in choosing the deterrent that fits each bird and each surface, installing it so it holds and cleaning the area so the customer is not left with a mess.

What customers ask

  • Will the spikes hurt the birds?
  • Will the netting hold up in wind?
  • Can you remove the nests?
  • Will this damage my roof or siding?
  • How do you clean the droppings?
  • What if they find a way around it?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask which birds are roosting or nesting, where they sit, when the problem started and what has been tried.
  • Survey the surfaces on site and identify the birds, the gaps and the access points, before you recommend a deterrent.
  • Put the areas, the deterrent type, the materials and fasteners, the nest handling, the cleanup and the follow-up in the written quote.
  • Show the customer the deterrent options with the pros and cons for their surfaces, so they can choose with the facts in front of them.
  • Walk the installed area with the customer, check for gaps and clearances, and show them the cleanup you left behind.
  • Schedule a follow-up check after the first few weeks, and tell the customer what to report if birds find a way around the deterrent.

What to put on your profile

  • Your license and any contractor or wildlife credentials shown where your area requires them
  • Before and after photos of protected ledges, roof edges and vents, shown without identifying customers
  • The deterrent types you install and the surfaces each one suits
  • Your cleanup and safety process, described in plain terms

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Send a check reminder for the first few weeks after installation
  • Offer a seasonal check of netting and spikes, since weather and wear can loosen them
  • Suggest a repair of any gap or damage found during cleanup, as a separate item in the quote

Licenses and permits

Bird deterrent installation is commonly not licensed, but roof or structural work may need contractor licensing in some areas, and nest handling must follow the wildlife rules that apply to the birds. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your permit office before you take the work.

Questions

Do I need a license to install bird spikes or netting?

Deterrent installation is commonly not licensed, but roof or structural work can fall under contractor rules in some areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency before you take roof work.

How do I handle nests that are protected?

Check the wildlife rules that apply to the species before you touch a nest. In many cases you should wait until the nest is empty, or call a licensed wildlife professional for guidance. Document the decision and the timing.

What do I do when birds find a way around the deterrent?

Inspect the gap, close it, and check the clearances again. Explain to the customer what changed, and offer a follow-up visit to confirm the new setup is holding.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More pest control guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get bird control requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free