How to free a trapped bird from extractor fan vent!!!

newlywed

Can anyone help?
We live in flats and think there is a bird that is trapped in the extractor fan tube in our bathroom (we are the bottom flat). It sounds like it keeps flapping its wings and pecking at the fan when it's on. :shocked:

RSPCA said try and free it yourself.

If we remove the extractor fan (hubby is ok with doing this) does that mean the bird will fly out and try and attack us? Do we need protective gloves in case it pecks at us?

What's the best way of trying to release the bird? Have seen suggestions of capturing in a pillow case and letting go outside. RSPCA said leave as many windows as possible open - however, the bathroom has no window, nor does the hall. If we let it out our front door then it will be stuck in the stairwell of the flats. :think:

All suggestions gratefully received!!!

merikiito

Hi, do not be scared of the bird it will be more scared of you! It is likely to be a small bird not a Crow or Raven which might cause some damage. Once the bird is out it will then be able to fend for itself and make its way out. Cover windows that you cannot open with curtains or it will fly into them and break its neck. Leave the lights off if you can as this will calm the bird down. If it cannot see where to fly it will usely stay still or be less stressed. Make sure you do get rid of the bird from the flue or otherwise it will rot and you will end up will flys/maggots dropping out of the ceiling,not nice! A peck from a small bird will not hurt and to be honest is unlikely to happen as it will be trying to get away from you not attack you. Good luck

newlywed

Thanks thats more what i thought. Hubby seems to be worried about having a bird then flapping and flying round the flat!!

Last thing we want is a stinky dead bird carcass stuck there, not to mention the fact that the poor bird is probably distressed.

Just hope it really is stuck and not just nesting as the noise it makes seems to happen and then go quiet for hours. Not sure if it's giving up or managing to get out and then comes back again!!

jobbingmusician

When this happened to me at work I rang the RSPCA. They said have a cloth/sheet to hand, and throw it over the bird as you open the - the fireplace, in our case. Then you can pick the bird up (they don't tend to struggle in the dark) and take it outside. It was very successful with our pigeon, who flew straight off into the sun once released, a touching moment!

Use an OLD cloth as there will be all sorts of gak inside your extractor fan, sadly

LizD_2

It's unlikely to be nesting as it's a bit late in the year, even for those that have 2 broods a year. it's probably just come looking for a warm hidey-hole! If you take the cover off the flue, it will probably hide down there until you leave the room. Leave it as many exits as possible, cover mirrors/large windows etc and hope it goes. If it doesn't go out, you'll have to carefully (especially if its small) and quietly throw a towel over it and let it go outside. If you don't catch it in a couple of goes, give it a fair break then try again, so it doesn't get too distressed. Good luck

Nile

newlywed wrote:

Can anyone help?
We live in flats and think there is a bird that is trapped in the extractor fan tube in our bathroom (we are the bottom flat). It sounds like it keeps flapping its wings and pecking at the fan when it's on. :shocked:

RSPCA said try and free it yourself.

If we remove the extractor fan (hubby is ok with doing this) does that mean the bird will fly out and try and attack us? Do we need protective gloves in case it pecks at us?

What's the best way of trying to release the bird? Have seen suggestions of capturing in a pillow case and letting go outside. RSPCA said leave as many windows as possible open - however, the bathroom has no window, nor does the hall. If we let it out our front door then it will be stuck in the stairwell of the flats. :think:

All suggestions gratefully received!!!

Hello newlywed

I was wondering if you might have a bat in the extractor fan, rather than a bird? Anyway, as you suggested..........you should wear gloves.

The gloves should be thick suede or leather gloves (gardening gloves?) and not thin cotton or woollen gloves.

If you discover that it is a bat you've captured in your sheeting/pillow case the gloves will protect your hands from bites.;)

Let us know how you get on.

Regards

Nile

newlywed

LizD wrote:

It's unlikely to be nesting as it's a bit late in the year, even for those that have 2 broods a year. it's probably just come looking for a warm hidey-hole! If you take the cover off the flue, it will probably hide down there until you leave the room. Leave it as many exits as possible, cover mirrors/large windows etc and hope it goes. If it doesn't go out, you'll have to carefully (especially if its small) and quietly throw a towel over it and let it go outside. If you don't catch it in a couple of goes, give it a fair break then try again, so it doesn't get too distressed. Good luck

Oh yeah should have guessed it was the wrong time to nest!! :rolleyes:

Thanks for the mirrors comment - two large mirror cabinets in the bathroom where it is stuck and I would have forgotten that!!!!

newlywed

Nile wrote:

I was wondering if you might have a bat in the extractor fan, rather than a bird? Anyway, as you suggested..........you should wear gloves.

A Bat :eek: Hope not!!

It sounds like it's pecking its beak against the fan when the fan's running and when it flaps around it does sound like feathers. Then again - never been that close to a bat!

We live in a big town - is a bat likely?

newlywed

Ok, so after much debating, covering mirrors and shutting doors, we took the cover of the vent. Waited ages for the fan to switch off (automatic start up with the light). Decided nothing could get out without taking the whole fan bit off.

So OH carefully removed it and ran away in case it flew out at him!!!

Turns out it wasn't a bat, but was a starling which had sadly not survived long enough to be set free or rather our rescue efforts were some 2 hours too late for the poor bird.

Spent the next half hour debating who was going to stick their hand in amongst all that dust and fluff and pull the dead bird out!! :eek: And then spent the next hour cleaning the bathroom, hoovering and dusting it all and disinfecting everything!!

newlywed

Thanks everyone for all the advice. Hopefully we won't have to repeat the experience in a hurry!!!