Bird in chimney - gas fire

Ivrytwr3

Bah! Got a bird stuck in the chimney breast (no smut please Aidey!) and we have a gas fire.

I have dismantled the decorative parts of the fire place, but the shell of it is 'pinned' to the wall. Any ideas on whether i should remove these pins and whether it would easily fit back?

Or any ideas on how to get the bird out? (no ladders and the roof is a loooong way up!)

Ta!

(I was advised to turn on the gas fire to kill it - but wouldn't it smell?!)

DirectDebacle

Ivrytwr3 wrote: »

(I was advised to turn on the gas fire to kill it - but wouldn't it smell?!)

It won't be able to smell anything when it's dead.;)

If it is up there for more than a day or two it will probably die anyway. Eventually it will just rot away. Most likely any smell will go up the chimney unless there is a downdraught.

You could give the RSPB a call for advice.

docmatt

If it's a small bird it will die in three days. If it's a pigeon it could be there for up to three weeks. Pigeons can live for weeks in chimneys as they manage to find the seeds and food dropped by other birds perched on the chimney.

I'd try and get him out, use a bed sheet or he will fly into the room and soot everything up

Ivrytwr3

DirectDebacle wrote: »

You could give the RSPB a call for advice.

Been on their website and it specifically says that if it is a gas fire they cannot help and suggest getting an engineer out.

Ivrytwr3

docmatt wrote: »

I'd try and get him out, use a bed sheet or he will fly into the room and soot everything up

That's the problem, i cannot get the fire out as it's 'pinned' to the wall.

Mankysteve

Ivrytwr3 wrote: »

(I was advised to turn on the gas fire to kill it - but wouldn't it smell?!)

Your liable to end up dead if the birds blocked the chimney enough. Don't follow this bit of advice.

I'm afraid its a gas safe engineer time. Don't fool around with gas appliances its not worth it.

viv0147

I thought I had a similar problem! I could have sworn there was a bird trapped behind my fire, as it happens the engineer called to give the annual check for the fire, and I told him about the bird he told me there is a cover on the chimney which prevents birds falling down the chimney but they perch on it and the chirping goes down the chimney it is apparently quite common and there is not much we can do about it.

MX5huggy

I removed 12 dead crows from a chimney once! It was unused fire place that was blocked up but the next chimney was the flue exit for the gas central heating so the crows were getting gassed and falling down the unused chimney. The 1st one came out just bones till the last one which was still fresh. What I did not consider was the fleas my arms where covered with bites.

cheekyweegit

Ooh this happened to me about 6-8 weeks or so ago. Only time my cat has ever showed any interest in the fire and kept sticking it's head up the chimney.

Short version - had to get Pest Control and a gas engineer to remove fire.

Long version - read below.....

Phoned emergency repairs at the local council as council house - not an emergency. Phone back next day normal repairs line.

Phoned next day - not our problem, it will be dead - it was still alive. Phone environmental health.

Phoned environmental health, not us but pest control as bird will be dead - no it's still alive - phone environmental health. Note the pattern here. Phoned them - phone repairs.

Day 3 - bird still alive, phoned repairs and lost the plot, politely though, phoned pest control and finally got somewhere. Arranged someone to come out who arranged for a gas engineer to come out at the same time to remove fire as it was pinned in.

Day 4 - Environmental guy arrives, but no engineer booked, bird still alive and environmental guy arguing with someone over the phone re this, argument stops, engineer due in 1 hour. Environmental guy goes, but tells us to open all windows in living room wide! As bird will head straight for light most likely to get out and if windows not open, it will kill itself crashing into them. Didn't want this after it surviving 4 days behind fire.

Engineer arrives dismantles fire (thankfully still had instructions), had the wires holding it in place as OP describes but even after disconnecting them fire stayed in place as fire had to be physically disconnected from gas source as this was holding it in place.

Fire just about disconnected when pest control arrive back (incase bird dies on escape), windows wide open, blinds up and curtains pulled back, cat safely away in other room much to her disgust.

Scuttling heard from bird, and fire pulled out around 3-4 inches and bird flew out so quick I barely saw it, :T got the fright of my life and queue the pest control guy and engineer laughing at me.

Me - very happy :)it was alive and well despite the ordeal, the guys saying but it's only a bird. :eek:

PS it was a spuggy, little sparrow to those who don't know and I'm waiting to get a "grannie / cowl" fitted to the chimneys so it doesn't happen again.

PPS the cat still looks for the bird up the chimney occaisionally.

mkaibear

cheekyweegit wrote: »

PPS the cat still looks for the bird up the chimney occaisionally.

:rotfl:

That's awesome

gas4you

The fire is probably just screwed to the fireplace for stability.

It should really be removed and the closure plate removed and refitted by a RGI registered for fires. He will also smoke test the chimney once the bird is out.

Getting the bird out is easy once everything is removed. Shut all doors, turn off lights, pull all curtains shut bar one left open across an open window.

The bird will fly towards the light and escape.