Discouraging Pesky Birds
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
I went to 3 hardware shows in two weeks. First, there was an Ace Spring Hardware Show in San Antonio. Even though my store is not an Ace store, the Ace organization is very happy to extend a welcoming hand to me and invite me to this show. It was a great show, and the best part is that several product lines that had disappeared from Do It Best, were at that Ace show. And after talking with the vendors, they agreed to drop ship to me. So, I am hoping to talk about these products soon, and if you have an Ace location near you, locating these items will be easy. Pretty exciting! Then I went to the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. I have strong emotional ties to the National Hardware Show. I started going with my dad to this show back when it was in Chicago. Then when it moved to Vegas, we went there also. I found several items; some are already on the market and some disappointingly are still just in the planning mode. These inventors come to invite investors and hopefully sell their ideas to a bigger organization. It’s not the same hardware show that it was 5 years ago. Then I went directly from Vegas to the Do It Best show in Orlando. And that show was the biggest show that Do It Best has ever had. So big that I did not get to see the whole show, which was not disappointing but exciting. When a co-op can get that big, it just helps me grow my business with new products and ideas. So right now, I might be tired, but I am super stoked about possibilities.
You would think I would write about one of those new items. But I want to try out these products first before I share them with you. Today I want to write about a product that has been around for quite a while. In fact, the very first time I remember an experience with this product was our lumberyard in downtown San Antonio. We had these huge lumber sheds. And the birds would light on those high wood rafters and poop everywhere. It was a mess. And then we started using what was called Bye Bye Birdie and it really discouraged the birds from lighting. What is Bye Bye Birdie? It’s a sticky clear substance that comes in a caulking tube. And the birds don’t like that on their feet. And then they don’t stay. Now, I... like you... love birds, I have two bird feeders. But what I don’t like is a bird lighting on my deck rafters or front porch and leaving a mess underneath. I had a lady in the store yesterday and she said that the birds were throwing out all the new potting soil that was in her new flower hanging baskets. She was thrilled about finally having an answer to this problem. And if you are having problems with birds, so do you. How do you use BirdX? It’s so easy. Place this product in a caulking gun, snip off the end of the tube. Spread BirdX on the areas that you are having a problem. Using a throw away glove, spread out the BirdX, on the area where you want to discourage the birds. That’s it. I told you it was simple. Find it at your local hardware store. It should retail for around $12.99, and you will need a caulking gun and some disposable gloves. If you can’t find it local it will be on the website www.happyhandyman.com.
Now to the email….
Question: Last year we had so many flies in our backyard. It made it almost impossible to enjoy our backyard. We did use those flytraps that smell horrendous, and they worked but I was wondering if there was another way to take care of the flies?
Answer: Like you I had flies in my backyard. So, when I went to the show, I asked Rescue what’s the best way was to control flies. Unfortunately, those flies are attracted to that stinky bait. And like you it’s the disposing that is awful. So, they gave me a tip. Use a plastic grocery bag that you get from shopping every week, and just capture the trap from the bottom up, tie the bag up top and never touch the trap. Great question!