Having birds nesting in your chimney can be a nuisance and potentially hazardous. Their nests can block the chimney flue, causing smoke and toxic fumes to back up into your home. Birds can also introduce parasites, damaging droppings, and debris into the chimney. Fortunately, there are several effective methods for removing birds from your chimney safely and humanely.
Identifying Bird Presence in Your Chimney
Before taking any action, you’ll first want to confirm that birds have indeed made your chimney their home. Some signs that point to bird occupancy include:
Hearing Noises from Within the Chimney
Listen closely for chirping, fluttering, or scratching coming from inside the chimney. These noises indicate active birds within the flue. Bird noises are often most noticeable in the morning and evening hours.
Seeing Droppings or Nests Around the Chimney
Inspect the roof and chimney exterior for any debris, nesting materials, or white or black droppings around the chimney opening. Finding evidence of droppings or partially built nests is a clear indicator that birds are accessing the chimney.
Noticing Changes in Chimney Draft
If your chimney experiences a sudden change in airflow or smokes up, it could mean a bird nest is obstructing the flue. Watch for backdrafts or improper venting of smoke through the chimney, especially when lighting a fire.
Using Visual Aids for Confirmation
For a closer look inside the chimney flue, carefully use a flashlight or dental mirror to check for nests. Only do this when you know the chimney is inactive and has cooled down completely. Never look directly up a chimney yourself due to falling debris and health hazards. If needed, hire a chimney sweep to inspect the interior.
Preventive Measures to Keep Birds Out
Implementing preventive measures can help deter birds from nesting in the chimney in the first place. Here are some effective prevention tips:
Install Chimney Caps
Cap your chimney with an approved spark arrestor cap. Stainless steel chimney caps feature wire mesh screening that allows smoke to pass through while keeping birds and other animals out. Hire a professional for proper installation.
Use Chimney Screens
For open chimney tops, installing stainless steel screens over the flue opening provides a barrier to keep birds from entering while allowing airflow. Screens should be installed by professionals.
Seal All Gaps and Holes
Inspect the chimney’s exterior for any gaps, loose mortar, or holes where birds can gain access. Seal up all openings with caulk or weatherproof sealant to close off entry points.
Add Spikes or Wire Mesh
Attaching stainless steel wire mesh or spike strips around chimney edges deters birds from landing and nesting there. This should be done humanely by ensuring proper spacing between spikes.
Clean Out Debris
Routinely cleaning your chimney to remove debris, leaves, twigs, and soot eliminates materials birds can use to build nests. Hire a chimney sweeper annually.
By proactively carrying out one or more of these preventive measures, you can help keep birds from viewing your chimney as an inviting nesting spot.
Removing Birds from Your Chimney
If birds have already established nests in your chimney, you’ll need to take action to safely remove them and their nesting materials. Here is a humane, step-by-step process:
Set Up Barriers
The first step is closing off the chimney opening to discourage birds from entering. This can be done using a chimney cap or screen if not already installed. Plastic sheeting or hardware cloth also work as temporary barriers.
Remove the Nest
Once you are sure the adult birds are out foraging and not inside, it’s time to remove the nest. Use stiff rubber gloves and protective eyewear when doing this. Carefully reach up from below and grab handfuls of the nest until it is completely cleared out. Place the debris in a plastic bag for disposal.
Let the Birds Leave on Their Own
With the chimney blocked and the nest gone, adult birds will abandon the site in search of a new nesting spot. Avoid sealing up the chimney if adult birds are still inside, as they will die. Give them a few days to leave on their own.
Handle Baby Birds with Care
If the nest has hatchlings or eggs present, take precautions to ensure the survival of the baby birds by:
- Gently remove and relocate the intact nest to a substitute site, like a suitable birdhouse. Move it nearby so the adult birds can continue caring for the young.
- Calling a wildlife rehab professional to safely remove and hand-raise the orphaned hatchlings. Do not attempt this yourself without proper training and permits.
- Placing a mesh enclosure around the nest area inside the chimney so the babies stay safe as the parents continue to feed them until fledging.
Continue Exclusion Efforts
Keep the chimney capped and screened after the nest removal to prevent the adult birds from restarting a nest. Continue monitoring the area for any lingering bird activity.
With preparation and care, birds can be successfully encouraged to relocate without harming the adult birds or orphaning the young hatchlings.
Cleaning and Disinfecting the Chimney
Once the birds are gone, a thorough chimney cleaning is crucial to remove all traces of the nest and droppings. Bird and bat waste contains harmful pathogens that can cause respiratory issues if inhaled.
Follow these chimney cleaning steps:
Wear Protective Gear
Use an N95 mask, head covering, gloves, and eyewear when cleaning fecal matter and debris from the chimney flue. This prevents accidental inhalation or skin contact with bird-associated parasites and diseases.
Remove All Visible Debris
Using chimney sweeping rods and stiff plastic brushes, scrub the interior of the chimney flue to dislodge all sticks, leaves, nest remnants, and other debris. Collect all dislodged materials at the bottom in plastic bags.
Clean All Surfaces
Use a high-pressure sprayer or chemical scrub brushes to wash any areas visibly soiled by droppings inside the chimney flue and on the damper, smoke chamber, and cap. Rinse thoroughly.
Treat Affected Areas
Saturate any nesting spots or surfaces touched by bird droppings with a diluted bleach solution. Let the disinfectant sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. This kills bacteria and viruses.
Avoid Chimney Fires
Before starting up your chimney again, have a professional chimney sweep complete a full inspection using video cameras as needed. Verify that no debris is blocking the flue, which could lead to a dangerous chimney fire.
Taking protective measures when cleaning and completing a safety inspection ensures your chimney’s health for use after birds have been removed.
Preventing Birds from Returning
To discourage birds from nesting in your chimney again, here are some effective long-term deterrent methods:
Install Bird Spikes or Netting
Installing non-harmful spike strips or plastic netting over the chimney’s exterior deters birds from landing to build nests. Ensure these devices are properly spaced and anchored for safety.
Apply Bird Repellent Products
Applying non-toxic chimney bird repellent gels or solutions creates a sticky surface that irritates birds’ feet, deterring them from landing. Reapply these products regularly, as needed.
Employ Ultrasonic Devices
Battery-powered or electrically powered ultrasonic pest repellers emit high-frequency sounds that bother birds and drive them away from the area. Place units around the chimney.
Use Visual Deterrents
Add visual elements like predator decoys, reflective ribbons, balloons, or lights to the chimney area. These frighten and confuse birds, preventing them from feeling safe enough to nest.
Modify Nearby Landscaping
Cut back tree branches and vegetation directly surrounding the chimney. Eliminate food sources and perches so the area appears less attractive to birds.
Using one or a combination of these bird-deterrent techniques reduces the chance of future nesting and chimney blockages after birds have been removed from the site.
Hiring Professional Chimney Service
For severe bird infestations or complicated nest removals involving live hatchlings, it is best to hire professional chimney sweepers or wildlife control companies. Licensed experts have the proper gear, skills, and legal permits to:
- Safely access tall or difficult chimneys using scaffolding or roof anchor equipment.
- Visually inspect the chimney interior using special cameras if needed.
- Humanely remove nests without harming adult birds or eggs using legal methods only available to licensed wildlife control companies.
- Legally handle protected migratory bird species like swallows, swifts, or woodpeckers.
- Provide emergency chimney fire prevention and cleaning services after the removal is complete.
- Offer advice on how to help modify the property to permanently keep birds away from your chimney.
Though more costly than DIY methods, professionals have specialized abilities, gear, and legal permits, allowing them to solve severe bird chimney infestations quickly and effectively.
Chimney Inspection and Maintenance
Regular chimney inspections and maintenance help keep your chimney in optimal shape to prevent future bird and debris blockages after nests have been removed. Here are some chimney care tips:
Annual Professional Chimney Inspections
Hire a certified Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) professional to inspect your chimney at least once per year. They can spot any new gaps, damage, obstructions, or nesting risks early before they become big problems.
Remove Creosote Buildup
Have your chimney swept annually or after every 60 fires to remove creosote, a flammable byproduct of burning wood. Creosote buildup poses a chimney fire risk and gives birds surfaces to build nests on.
Check the Flue
Ensure your flue is the proper size for your fireplace or stove. Oversized flues allow more outdoor air in, increasing the chances for nest material to enter and clog the passageway.
Repair Damage Immediately
Promptly repair any chimney damage, missing mortar, or exterior holes noted during inspections before birds can use them as entry points.
Keep the Cap Clear
Remove any debris that collects on your chimney cap after storms or winter ice. Caps with debris can cause airflow issues, moisture damage, and nesting material to accumulate.
Staying on top of chimney maintenance keeps the structure sound and the flue clear of nesting hazards. Help avoid emergency bird situations through consistent upkeep and timely repairs.
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Conclusion
Birds nesting in chimneys are an unwanted but common occurrence that demands prompt action once discovered. Identifying signs like bizarre chimney noises or debris around the exterior quickly is key, so nests do not have time to develop into more serious blockages. Removing nests humanely, along with deterrent techniques, gets rid of current bird occupants while discouraging their return. Hiring professional chimney and wildlife control services provides the best solutions for severe, complex infestations. Finally, prevention through proactive chimney maintenance and modification is the ultimate strategy to protect the structure from future bird colonization. With some diligence and care for both home and wildlife, you can successfully evict uninvited chimney bird nests and prevent new ones from forming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I tell if birds are nesting in my chimney?
A: Some signs birds have entered your chimney include chirping noises coming from the flue, bird droppings around the opening, debris falling into the fireplace, and sudden airflow or ventilation issues when using the chimney.
Q: Will birds eventually leave the chimney on their own?
A: Birds are unlikely to abandon an established chimney nest on their own. Blocking them inside can lead to their deaths. Taking safe actions to actively remove nests and modify chimney access points is required.
Q: Is it okay to destroy bird eggs I find in the chimney?
A: It is illegal to destroy migratory bird eggs without permits. Contact wildlife professionals to remove intact nests or relocate eggs to an artificial incubator if unhatched eggs are found in a chimney.
Q: How often should chimney inspection and cleaning be done?
A: The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual chimney inspections and cleanings to check for damage, debris, and creosote buildup. More frequent cleanings may be needed for heavily-used fireplaces and stoves.
Q: Will birds return to the same chimney repeatedly?
A: It’s common for birds to return to a chimney they have previously nested in. Taking deterrent measures and closing off entry points after removing original nests helps prevent this from occurring.