Tracked delivery anywhere in the United States. Free on orders of $75 or more; below that the only method offered is Express Delivery at $22, which is also available above the threshold as a paid upgrade. Allow 5 to 7 days, after a 24 to 48 hour handling time.
We give you 15 days from purchase to return an unused item. That is our own policy rather than a United States statutory right, because federal law gives no cooling-off period for an online purchase. Send it back unused and in resaleable condition and we refund what you paid for it, less a $29 per order handling charge; on a change of mind you also cover the return postage and the original delivery charge is not refunded. If the item arrives faulty, damaged or not as described, none of that applies: tell us and we put it right at our cost.
Your rights under federal and state consumer protection law are unaffected. That is a statutory right and nothing on this page limits it.
Move it every week or two. A decoy that has stood in the same place all summer is a garden ornament.
Reflective EyesCatches light as it turns
Spring HeadRotates in the wind on its own
Weather ResistantFade and water resistant paint
Indoor Or OutBarn, deck, roof or balcony
About this product
A decoy works on surprise, and surprise runs out.
Weather resistant plastic owl with reflective eyes and a spring loaded head that turns in the wind. Move it often or it stops working.
A moulded plastic owl with realistic markings, reflective eyes and a spring loaded head that turns in the wind rather than staring in one direction.
Fade resistant and water resistant paint, so it is meant for outdoors as well as inside a barn or a warehouse.
It works on surprise, and this is the honest part: birds work decoys out. A decoy that has not moved in a month is being ignored.
Move it every week or two, change its height, and use it alongside something physical if the problem is a ledge.
It is the cheapest thing to try on an open deck or balcony, and the least permanent.
A decoy predator is the oldest bird deterrent there is, and it does work, for a while. The spring loaded head is the part that matters: a decoy that turns and catches the light reads as alive for far longer than one that sits still.
What it is honestly not is permanent. Birds habituate to a decoy that never moves, and the interval is weeks rather than months. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you a garden ornament.
Use it accordingly. Move it every week or two, vary the height, and put it where the birds actually are rather than where it looks good. Somewhere breezy is better than somewhere sheltered, because the head needs air to turn.
If the real problem is roosting on a ledge, the decoy is the wrong tool and a spike strip is the right one. Where a decoy earns its place is an open deck, a balcony, a boat or a barn interior where there is nothing to fix a strip to.
Still deciding?
Not sure yet? That is fine.
You can change your mind. We give you 15 days from purchase on any unused item. That is our own policy rather than a United States statutory right, because federal law gives no cooling-off period for an online purchase, and we would rather say so than imply a right you do not have. Send it back unused and in resaleable condition and we refund what you paid for it, less the $29 per order handling charge; on a change of mind you also cover the return postage.
If it turns up faulty, damaged or not as described, that is on us. Your rights under federal and state consumer protection law are unaffected. Read the detail on our refunds and returns page, or ask us anything before you order.
For a while, yes, and then birds work it out. Weeks rather than months if it never moves. That is the honest answer and it is why the head is spring loaded.
How often should I move it?
Every week or two, and change the height as well as the position.
Why does the head turn?
A decoy that moves reads as alive for much longer than one that sits still. The head is spring loaded and the wind does the work.
Can I use it indoors?
Yes. Barns and warehouses are a common use, where there is often nothing to fix a strip to.
Will it survive outdoors?
The paint is fade and water resistant and it is made for outdoor use.
Where should I put it?
Where the birds actually are, high, and somewhere with some air movement so the head turns.
Will it scare small garden birds too?
It may, at first. It does not distinguish between species.
Should I buy this or spikes?
Spikes if there is a ledge to fix to, every time. A decoy is for open spaces where there is nothing to fix to.
Do I need more than one?
On a large open area, yes. One owl covers a small deck or balcony.
Does it make noise?
No.
Is it heavy enough for wind?
Weight the base if you are putting it somewhere exposed. Most people put sand or gravel in it.
Is this a warehouse item?
No, it is shipped by our supply partner rather than from the warehouse, so it may arrive separately from other items.
How big is it?
Life sized for a large owl, which is what makes it read at a distance.
Does it need batteries?
No. The head turns in the wind on a spring.
Is it hollow?
Yes, which is why it needs weighting anywhere exposed.
Will water get inside?
There is usually a drain hole. If not, mount it so water runs off rather than pools.
Can I fix it to a post?
Yes. Most people cable tie the base to a post or a rail.
Does it work on pigeons?
Briefly. Pigeons habituate faster than most birds, which is why a ledge wants a strip.
Will it keep squirrels away?
Sometimes, at first. It is not a squirrel product.
Can I use two together?
Over a large area, yes, and moving them alternately keeps the effect going longer.
Does the paint fade?
It is fade resistant, but nothing outdoors keeps its colour forever.
Will it frighten my chickens?
Possibly at first. They settle within days, for the same reason wild birds do.
Can I put it on a roof?
Yes, if you can fix it down safely. Work at height needs the right equipment.
Does it come assembled?
The head clips on. There is nothing else to do.
Is it suitable for a balcony?
Yes, and a balcony is one of the places it does best, because there is often nothing to fix a strip to.
What if it stops working?
Move it. That is almost always the answer, and it costs nothing.
What does delivery cost?
Free anywhere in the United States on orders over $75. Under that the store's Express Delivery is $22. Allow 5 to 7 days after a 24 to 48 hour handling time.
What if I change my mind?
You have 15 days from purchase to return an unused item. A $29 per order handling charge applies and the return postage is yours. The refunds and returns page sets it out in full.
Do you supply trade quantities?
Yes. The wholesale quote page takes the quantity and comes back with trade pricing.
Who do I ask if my question is not here?
Email theteam@pestspike.com. A photo of the area you are trying to protect usually gets a complete answer in one reply.
The complete guide
Getting more than a fortnight out of a decoy
4 min readPest Spike Company
Put it where the birds are
Not where it looks best. Walk the area, find the droppings and the perches, and
put the decoy there, as high as you sensibly can.
Somewhere with air
The head is spring loaded and the wind turns it. A sheltered corner gives you a
statue.
Move it every week or two
This is the whole trick. Birds habituate to anything that does not change, and
the interval is weeks. Change the position and the height together.
Weight the base
Sand or gravel in the base keeps it upright somewhere exposed, and an owl lying
on its side deters nothing.
Know when to use a strip instead
If the birds are roosting on a gutter, a parapet, a sill or a beam, the decoy is
the wrong product. A spike strip changes the surface permanently and it costs
less over its life. Keep the decoy for open ground and interiors.
Tell us the bird, the surface and roughly how long the run is, and we will tell you what suits it before you buy. Free delivery across the United States on orders over $75.
Fake owl decoy sold by Pest Spike Company at pestspike.com, USD 49 (regular 60). Moulded
plastic owl with realistic markings, REFLECTIVE EYES and a SPRING LOADED HEAD that rotates
in the wind; fade and water resistant paint, suitable indoors or outdoors. The page is
explicit that a decoy works by SURPRISE and that birds HABITUATE to one within weeks, so it
must be repositioned every week or two and is not a permanent answer; where the problem is
roosting on a ledge the page directs the reader to a spike strip instead. Its best use is an
open deck, balcony, boat or barn interior with nothing to fix a strip to. Fulfilment is
DROPSHIP (site SKU carries the (A) prefix). No effectiveness percentage claimed. Free US
delivery over USD 75.
