The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Polybutene
- Chemical class
- Transparent, sticky material used as a physical perch repellent; the product is 93% polybutene.[1]
- Mode of action
- Tactile bird repellent: a tacky surface birds avoid landing on; not a poison and not in any IRAC group[1]
- Signal word
- 4 The Birds Bird Repellent: Warning[1]
Keeping small birds out of the gel
Don't apply it anywhere desirable bird species might get stuck. Oversized beads raise the risk, so the label repeats that beads must never be wider or deeper than half an inch.[1]
Where it is used
Clean first. Wipe or scrape off dust, dirt and droppings so the gel sticks, and seal porous surfaces with one coat of shellac or a 50% white-glue solution before applying.[1]
On ledges and sills, run beads no closer than 2 inches apart, starting 1 inch in from the outer edge. On roofs, peaks and cornices, one bead along the highest point is enough.[1]
Heavy bird traffic can flatten the beads, and a second treatment may be needed. Recap a partly used tube on its tip.[1]
Use mineral spirits to remove the gel from treated surfaces, tools or anything else it gets on.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 The Birds Bird Repellent[1] | Bird Control International Corp. | 8254-5 | 93.0% | tacky gel in caulking tubes | Warning |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 The Birds Bird Repellent | Ledges, sills, roofs, peaks and cornices of homes, apartments, commercial and municipal buildings, bridges and overpasses | Pigeons and starlings | 1 oz product per linear foot of bead[1] A 10-ounce tube covers 10 linear feet when beads are half an inch wide and half an inch high. Never lay beads wider or deeper than that. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word WARNING: causes substantial but temporary eye injury and is harmful if absorbed through skin. Wear goggles or a face shield, avoid skin contact, and wash up before eating, drinking or using tobacco.[1]
Pets
Store it in the original container where children and pets can't reach it. The label's skin and eye warnings apply to people and domestic animals.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The label carries no bee statement; it is a sticky gel laid on building surfaces, not a spray on plants.[1]
Fish and water
Its key environmental hazard is to birds: small birds can become fatally trapped in the tacky gel. Following the directions helps protect species covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.[1]
Common questions
- Does sticky bird gel hurt birds?
- It is meant to discourage perching, but the label warns that small birds may become fatally entrapped, so avoid places other birds use.[1]
- How far does one tube of 4 The Birds go?
- One 10-ounce tube treats about 10 linear feet with half-inch beads.[1]
- How do I get polybutene gel off a ledge?
- The label says to use mineral spirits to remove it from treated surfaces and equipment.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “4 The Birds Bird Repellent label, EPA Reg. No. 8254-5 (EPA-stamped, Oct. 16, 2019).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/008254-00005-20191016.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)