Played the old "bird in the stovepipe" game tonight lol!

[PA. Woodsman]

Came home and the wife says "there's either a bird or a bat in the stovepipe", so we all know how fun that game is. Took the elbow out and unscrewed the pipe so I could take the bottom 4 feet or so outside, the wife put plastic bags over both ends as soon as I got it off the rest of the pipe, and as soon as we got out the door the top bag started fluttering and this little bird worked it's way out and flew off, hopefully smart enough to not try that again! It actually was sitting in the part of the pipe that used to be a barometric damper that I had capped years ago. But it showed me a few things; I found some gaps in the pipe that I need to stuff some rope gasket in as soot was coming out, most likely from the bird flapping around, and I got to see that despite some very fine, black soot the pipe was still clean despite burning a lot of wood last Winter, but it was dry wood and I burn a little bit hot so that is why.

The main thing is I got the little thing free, and our 10 cats didn't get involved in the mix! I went up on the roof to make sure it wasn't starting to try to build a nest up there, and it was clear. Lord knows WHY it would've wanted to play around up there?!

 

[bag of hammers]

Nice work. Good karma getting the little guy out unharmed.

 

[KindredSpiritzz]

might be a new way to clean your chimney, just dump a bag of birds down there and let them flutter around awhile.

 

[bag of hammers]

No birds in my chimney (yet - knock on wood). Bats - that's another story....

 

[AmbDrvr253]

That is why I put a cap on

 

[bag of hammers]

That is why I put a cap on

Cap appears to discourage the birds but the bats don't seem to care. Squirrel in my sauna stove a couple years back also thumbed his nose at the cap. No screen on the cap though.

 

[ReggieT]

might be a new way to clean your chimney, just dump a bag of birds down there and let them flutter around awhile.

 

[Soundchasm]

My short version of this story...
First house has a gas furnace. New Year's Eve is bitter cold - single digits. I've got no heat. There's a starling or grackle wedged into the squirrel fan. Get him loose, give him food and water in the garage overnight and he thanks me by crapping all over everything.

Next NYE the same thing happens, but this time the bird is not wedged in quite so far. Well, the fan wasn't stopped but I certainly heard him struggling in the pipe. He goes straight outside since he's in better shape..

Summer comes and I finally put a cap on that exhaust!

I couldn't find that one post where the guy had cubic yards of compacted birds in his ancient fireplace. Seemed like he got them all out, but what a mess.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

That is why I put a cap on

I have a cap on there, the little bugger was just determined enough to squeeze his way through the metal rings!

Had a bat years ago too as someone else said; unfortunately for him we were away on vacation and found him dead when we got back. Other than that, no problems, but I'm sure down the line something else will try it again!

 

[firefighterjake]

I'm still held up with the "10 cat" part . . . I thought I was bad with 6 cats.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I'm still held up with the "10 cat" part . . . I thought I was bad with 6 cats.

Yeah, 10. All were strays, 7 from right in our backyard, the other 3 were "drop offs" over the years at work. Me and the wife have "more heart than brains" and "more brains than money", unfortunately! Years ago we had them trapped and spayed/neutered when they lived outside, but wouldn't you know it the female got away and of course had babies, 4 of them. 2 died as we think someone put antifreeze out and they must've drank it, but mama and the two babies we caught and brought them inside. We were feeding them and worrying about them being outside so we thought "we might as well bring them inside", and we did but it is a crazyhouse at times! Oh well, I guess there's a lot worse things in life than having 10 cats lol!

 

[Oldman47]

My lab just can't pass a cat scan so no cats, just one dog.

 

[turn_n_burn]

Had a greenwing Teal in our fireplace 2 years in a row back in 5th and 6th grade. Straight out of a Patrick McManus novel.