How To Keep Birds Away
From Chimneys

By Richard Worden

Birds love chimneys for their sense of security, comfort, and warmth. Unfortunately, birds can get stuck in the vent and prevent you from using your chimney or, in most cases, chirp excessively as a result of being trapped. So read on to learn how to keep birds away from chimneys.

To keep birds away from your chimney, you can Install a chimney cap, make them uncomfortable using noise-emitting devices, or use bird-repellent smells. However, it is better to call a professional to remove a stuck bird or an active bird nest to protect the eggs or nestlings.

An unwelcome guest is not exciting for any homeowner, especially if the visitor can potentially leave droppings behind, chirp uncontrollably, or spread parasites. Read this article for an in-depth guide on how to keep birds away from your chimney.

1. Install a Chimney Cap

The simplest way to prevent birds from setting up home in your chimney is to install a chimney cap. This is a protective covering that goes on top of the chimney. It is usually made of copper or steel mesh and a top cover and comes in various styles to match your home’s exterior.

Chimney caps come in a wide range of sizes, and you can adjust the mesh to your preference. The cap types also vary; therefore, knowing the right fit for your chimney is critical.

You can install a chimney cap yourself, but hiring a professional is recommended. You should get a chimney cap with sufficient airflow and covers the opening but not level enough for birds to perch.

I recommend this Shelter Bolt-On Chimney Cover (available on amazon.com) as it’s durable and comes with a galvanized steel hood and mesh cap that easily bolts onto the existing chimney tile.

Apart from keeping birds out, chimney caps have other benefits:

• They allow better air circulation since there are no nests to block airflow
• They stop rain from pouring into the chimney
• They protect against hot embers from your fireplace
• They block other animals, such as raccoons and squirrels, from creating blockages or building nests.
• They make the home environment safer by reducing the possibility of a fire
• They are aesthetically pleasing and transform a dull chimney top
  
  

Types of Chimney Caps

Chimney caps are of different varieties to match the various chimneys and fireplaces. Make sure you choose a chimney cover made of quality material. The top three materials are copper, stainless steel, and galvanized metal. The type you choose will depend on your budget and your fireplace, but stainless steel is the most sturdy.

You can go for galvanized metal, but these caps are unsuitable for gas logs. Also, they can rust and damage the siding and the chimney with time. Although copper and stainless steel are more pricey, they require less maintenance and are more aesthetically appealing.

Chimney Measurements and Mesh Size

Get the proper chimney measurements so that you get a proper-fitting cap. For a square vent, measure the width and length on the outside. For multiple vents, measure the tallest vent and the width that covers all the flues at once.

The mesh on chimney caps keeps critters and debris out and embers in. It comes in different sizes; therefore, you must pick the correct size. Aim for mesh with ¾ - inch (1.91 cm) openings across. Embers might escape through wider gaps, while ice can form in smaller spaces and block airflow. A blocked chimney will also prevent smoke and ash from escaping when you light a fire.

2. Use Noise

Birds nest in a chimney to lay their eggs and raise their offspring. Making enough noise in the daytime will scare off the birds. However, the noise should be moderate at long intervals because birds can suffer injuries in sudden flight as they look for an exit.

Are you wondering how to keep birds away from the chimney using noise? You can create loud noises by banging kitchen pots or pans at the bottom of the vents or using a professional noise emitter.

A sound emitter works indoors and outdoors well and is less offensive to a human. It sends out a frequency designed to frighten birds and other animals away. how to keep birds away from chimneys

Check out this quiet and effective Ultrasonic Pest Repeller (available on amazon.com). It produces low-frequency ultrasound waves that irritate the auditory nervous system of birds without affecting humans or pets.

3. Use Bird-Repellent Smells

Birds hate many smells that humans love, and keeping them away using scents is a simple yet effective way of deterring them from your chimney. Bird-repellent smells are fantastic because they can reach tight and hidden spots where caps or spikes cannot work.

The benefits of using smells include:

• You can place them in hard-to-reach spots.
• They are a subtle alternative to spikes or chimney caps
• They are quietly effective, unlike sound emitters
• Most smells are great for humans

Bird-repellent smells include:

1. Bird Gel

Bird repellent gel smells of peppermint oil and plays with the birds’ sense of sight and touch. It emits ultraviolet light, combining its texture and smell to give birds a fire sensation. The bird gel is relatively expensive, but it remains effective 4 years after the initial application.

2. Peppermint Oil

Essential oils, including peppermint, are excellent bird deterrents. Peppermint is highly offensive to birds, making it a great solution since most humans find its smell great. 

To make homemade peppermint oil, mix ¼ cup water with ¼ cup vinegar before adding 7 drops of peppermint oil and a further 7 drops of lemon oil.  After you’ve mixed the solution, next is to soak some cotton balls for several minutes. 

You should then scatter the soaked cotton balls in areas where you want to scare off the birds. And since the peppermint oil tends to fade or weaken over time, you should soak the cotton balls regularly to keep the birds away. 

3. Garlic

Many birds find the garlic smell offensive, making it a natural and cheap bird deterrent. You can leave garlic cloves in areas where you want to get rid of birds, but remember to remove them before they rot.

You can also make a garlic mix by mixing ¼ cup water with ¼ cup vinegar. You should then add 7 drops of garlic oil and 7 drops of lemon oil. Next is to dip cotton balls in the mixture for several minutes before placing them in strategic locations to ward off the birds. 

4. Cayenne Pepper

Despite cayenne pepper being part of numerous recipes, it is incredible how so many animals and birds cannot stand its smell. It is hard on the olfactory senses, which makes it a good deterrent for birds that want to nest on your chimney. Using cayenne pepper regularly will help keep birds away from your chimney area, but you’ll need to place it strategically to achieve the desired outcome. 

5. Chili Pepper Mix

When you think of how to keep birds away from the chimney, you want a simple, natural solution that does not involve toxic chemicals. The goal is to deter the birds without causing them any harm. Mixing water, chili pepper, and apple cider vinegar will do just that.

For this method, you’ll need half a gallon of water, around 24 chili peppers, and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar. Stir the ingredients and allow them to settle for around 10 minutes before spraying the mixture in problematic areas. Be sure to reapply the mixture severally as it tends to fade fast. 

6. Professional Products

There are various professional products designed to deter birds, which you can use if the natural smell repellents fail. These commercial repellants attack multiple senses and scare birds away. Their main downside is that they are more expensive but ultimately more effective.

One of the best products is the Bonide Repels Outdoor Spray (available on amazon.com). It contains natural ingredients with a strong scent that causes birds and other animals to avoid your home. It is biodegradable and does not cause any harm to humans, pets, or plants.

How To Keep Birds Away From Chimneys...
Final Thoughts

As outlined in this article, there are multiple ways to keep birds away from your chimney. Most methods are easy home remedies. Still, you can also call a professional for permanent solutions like chimney caps.

The most critical thing to note is that you must never use your fireplace while there are birds nesting in the vents. Only fire up the chimney when the birds are gone and the chimney is clean.

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Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

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