Installation: How and where to install my bird?Updated 3 hours ago

How Do I Install a Metalbird?

(Installation Guide for Trees, Posts, Walls, and More)

While many people choose to install Metalbirds in trees, they work just as well on:

• Fence posts

• Wooden gates and rails

• Sheds or garages

• Garden trellises and pergolas

• Even large indoor planters or feature walls

Installing a Metalbird is simple — as long as you’ve got a hammer and a bit of common sense. The real challenge? Picking the perfect spot.

Your bird should stand out. Look for clean lines, open space, and contrast — ideally against the sky, a fence, or a pale wall. Once you’ve found the right place, the rest is just tap, tap, done.

The Quick Install (Standard Outdoor Method)

Best for: Trees, timber posts, fences, garden structures, flowerpots

How to do it:

• Grab your bird by the branch (the bit with the spike)

• Hammer it directly into the surface — about 3 to 4 inches deep

• Step back and admire

Tip: Corten steel is tough, but if you're working with hard wood, drill a small pilot hole first. No shame in that.

Indoor Installation (Yep, That’s a Thing)

Best for: Drywall, interior wood walls, sheds, display setups

How to do it:

• Lay the bird flat against your wall

• Nail it through the cutouts in the wings or base of the branch

• No mounting kits, no fuss

Heads-up: Even indoors, your Metalbird will develop a patina over time. That’s what it’s made to do.

Hardwood Install (For the Tough Stuff)

Tools you’ll want:

• Hammer

• Gloves

• Safety glasses

• Optional: 5 mm drill bit

How to do it:

1. Mark your ideal spot

2. Try tapping the spike in

3. If the wood fights back, drill a 40 mm deep pilot hole

4. Hammer the bird into place firmly

5. Need to remove it later? Vise-Grips and patience

Masonry Install (Brick, Stone, Concrete Walls)

Tools you’ll need:

• 6 mm masonry drill bit

• 6 mm x 40 mm nylon wall anchor

• Masonry adhesive

• Gloves and safety glasses

Steps:

1. Drill a 40 mm deep hole where you want your bird

2. Insert the nylon wall anchor and apply adhesive

3. Tap the spike into the anchor

4. Hold it steady until the adhesive grips

5. Let it cure (check the glue instructions)

6. Done

Bonus: You can remove it later using Vise-Grips.

Other Surfaces and Creative Installs

Think of the spike as a 6-inch nail. If the surface can take it, go for it. Just make sure 3 to 4 inches of the spike can be safely secured.

Not sure if it’ll work? Ask someone handy. Or do a quick test before you commit.

Where’s the Best Place to Put a Metalbird?

Some ideas to get you started:

• Against a pale fence for contrast

• High up in a tree with sky behind it

• On a garden wall or post near a walkway

• On a raised bed or flowerpot near your front door

Got something weird and wonderful? Send us a photo. We love seeing where these birds land.

Can I Protect the Finish of My Metalbird?

Absolutely — though you don’t have to. Metalbirds are made from weathering steel that forms its own protective rust layer (a patina). That’s the whole point.

But if you want to keep the raw steel look:

• Spray on Rust-Oleum Matte Clear Enamel before installing

• Apply only to clean, dry surfaces

Want a pop of color or a custom finish?

• You can get your bird professionally powder-coated

• Just prep the surface properly beforehand

Metalbird Installation Summary

Let it rust or lock it in — up to you.
The weathered look is what makes each bird unique. But if you want it to stay shiny, we won’t judge.