Prevent nesting in boiler flue

EDit · 31-03-2021 9:43am #1

Had minor fire in horizontal part of boiler flue yesterday and found a load of burnt sticks/leaves when the flames were extinguished. Pulled it all out and thought no more of it. This morning, wife spotted a small bird flying into the flue with stick in its beak and, upon inspection, i can see a new pile of nesting material in the flue.

Thought about rapping chicken wire around end of flue, but the bird was pretty small and i don’t want to harm the thing

Any suggestions on best way to gently encourage the bird to nest elsewhere?

fiacha · 31-03-2021 10:13am

Remove the nest material now before any eggs are laid. Cover the flue with small diameter wire mesh. It's a safety hazzard so no reason to worry about doing it.
Depending on the species, it's often males building nests to attract females (and often failing miserably:)). The female will decide if the nest is suitable or not
They'll set up shop somewhere else, no harm done.

fryup · 01-04-2021 11:09am

chicken wire should do the job

magicbastarder · 01-04-2021 11:11am

could you stick a cowl on the end?
https://www.goodwins.ie/chimney-cowls/c-2468.html

EDit · 01-04-2021 12:01pm

Thanks. There is a cowl there already, but bird is getting in through gap. Ithink we’ll get some small diameter chicken wire on there and hope that works

fiacha · 01-04-2021 12:59pm

13mm x 13mm weld mesh should do it. can maybe pick it up by the metre in your local hardware store.

Prevent nesting in boiler flue

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