What to do about pigeons in the chimney

Pigeons in the chimney sound like a terrible problem. How in the world are you supposed to get rid of birds in such a small, inaccessible space? Well, the good news about pigeons in a chimney is that they are likely contained to that space, and believe it or not, this may be one of the easier places to get them out of when it comes to your home. First and foremost, do not open your chimney damper or start a fire. Someone has probably advised you to "smoke them out," but if you open the access into your home, you could quite possibly have a bunch of panicked pigeons suddenly burst down the chimney and into your space. Keep your damper closed and go buy a one-way bird funnel to attach to the top of the flu. Pigeons aren't going to stay in your chimney 24/7. They will have to come out eventually, and the one-way funnel will let them leave but won't let them get back inside. If you're worried about a nest, you can use a mirror to peer above the damper. Once the adults are gone, baby pigeons can be removed by hand.



Go back to the Winston-Salem Bird Control home page.