Hi I have never used a fireplace and never needed one but an old house I
bought has one in it. I have not moved into it yet and are updating it
here and there.

I was working on removing some wood paneling this afternoon and I heard some
bird sounds. It seemed to come from the inside? I ignored it and then I
heard it again, and from the direction of the fireplace. I walked over to
the fireplace and I saw two birds, one was standing at the bottom of the
fireplace and one was laying at a corner - dead.

I opened the doors and windows and went to get the live one, he freaked and
started to fly around and I lead her to the doors and he flew out. I then
took the dead one and disposed of it. Then I heard more bird songs. I
stucked my head and looked up the chimney and it's dark. Could the birds be
coming from the chimney? Isn't it supposed to be closed? I think there are
more birds up there but can't find their way out and they won't come down
until they are exhausted or near dead.

What should I do to free them? or should I assume that if they can find
their way in they should be able to find their way out? That dead bird
obviously did not.

Help!

MC

Temporarily take the stack or screen off the chimney top, so the birds can
escape, then close the hamper at the fireplace, so they cannot come into the
house.

"MiamiCuse" wrote in message
...
Hi I have never used a fireplace and never needed one but an old house I
bought has one in it. I have not moved into it yet and are updating it
here and there.

I was working on removing some wood paneling this afternoon and I heard
some bird sounds. It seemed to come from the inside? I ignored it and
then I heard it again, and from the direction of the fireplace. I walked
over to the fireplace and I saw two birds, one was standing at the bottom
of the fireplace and one was laying at a corner - dead.

I opened the doors and windows and went to get the live one, he freaked
and started to fly around and I lead her to the doors and he flew out. I
then took the dead one and disposed of it. Then I heard more bird songs.
I stucked my head and looked up the chimney and it's dark. Could the
birds be coming from the chimney? Isn't it supposed to be closed? I
think there are more birds up there but can't find their way out and they
won't come down until they are exhausted or near dead.

What should I do to free them? or should I assume that if they can find
their way in they should be able to find their way out? That dead bird
obviously did not.

Help!

MC

MiamiCuse wrote:

Hi I have never used a fireplace and never needed one but an old house I
bought has one in it. I have not moved into it yet and are updating it
here and there.

I was working on removing some wood paneling this afternoon and I heard some
bird sounds. It seemed to come from the inside? I ignored it and then I
heard it again, and from the direction of the fireplace. I walked over to
the fireplace and I saw two birds, one was standing at the bottom of the
fireplace and one was laying at a corner - dead.

I opened the doors and windows and went to get the live one, he freaked and
started to fly around and I lead her to the doors and he flew out. I then
took the dead one and disposed of it. Then I heard more bird songs. I
stucked my head and looked up the chimney and it's dark. Could the birds be
coming from the chimney? Isn't it supposed to be closed? I think there are
more birds up there but can't find their way out and they won't come down
until they are exhausted or near dead.

What should I do to free them? or should I assume that if they can find
their way in they should be able to find their way out? That dead bird
obviously did not.


There may be some chicks in the nest who are unable to get out. Do
what Roger advised, and be advised the one that flew out the window
should be able to re-gain entry. If the male was the dead one, the
female may stay with the chicks and die of starvation. I would
closely monitor the situation and possibly call an expert exterminator
to safely move the nest.

MC - It sounds like you have no damper on this fireplace if the birds
were just all of a sudden in your hearth. I would go to the roof and
inspect the cap. It is likely that there is no screen or a rotted out
screen that needs some work. By this rooftop inspection You will also
probubly find out if you are dealing with a nest or a couple of
curiouse birdies. If the roof is a steep pitch or not easily reachable
be sure to hire a chimney sweep to do the inspection.
Considering the birds came right through you may want to consider a
chimney balloon to plug the flue to keep from loosing heat through the
open fireplace and to block the bird noise.