“I’m sitting in the living room and suddenly I hear scratching and rustling noises coming from the stove. The fire isn’t burning. I open the door and see something moving behind the firebrick. What should I do?”
It’s hard to believe, but birds actually do get into chimneys. Some are looking for a nesting place, others fall in accidentally and can’t find their way out again.
Sometimes they get stuck directly in the chimney, sometimes they reach the flue pipe or the firebox of the stove.
The most important rule: If you suspect that there is a bird in the chimney or oven, under no circumstances should you light it.
How can I tell if there’s a bird in my chimney?
The most common sounds heard are unusual noises such as scratching, rustling, wing flapping or chirping.
The noises could be coming from the chimney, the flue, or directly from the stove.
Sometimes you might also notice feathers or small foreign objects in the combustion chamber.
The bird may become trapped on an obstacle in the flue gas path or land behind the deflector plate, a plate in the upper part of the combustion chamber that directs the flow of flue gas.
1. What to do if the bird is directly in the oven?
If the oven is completely cold and the bird is visible in the firebox, remain calm.
First, close the doors to the other rooms, remove any pets, and open a window that leads outside.
If the oven door can be opened safely, you can let the bird fly out on its own.
Turn off the artificial lighting in the room so that the open window is the clearest escape route.
Do not attempt to chase, grab, or forcibly remove the bird. A frightened bird could injure itself.
If it doesn’t come out or is visibly injured, contact a wildlife rescue center.
2. What happens if the bird is behind the deflector?
“I can hear it somewhere up there, but I can’t see it at all. Can I remove the top firebrick plate?”
On some ovens, the deflector can be removed for cleaning. On others, the process is more complicated and may require the disassembly of further components.
Therefore, do not remove the deflector by force and do not disassemble the oven without knowing its construction.
Provided the manufacturer permits the safe disassembly of the deflector according to the instructions, the procedure can be discussed with a specialist.
However, it must be taken into account that the bird may unexpectedly fly away after being released.
When in doubt, leave the rescue to a professional.
3. What happens when a bird gets stuck in the chimney?
The situation here could be more complicated.
A bird can get stuck in a chimney flue, behind a bend in the flue pipe, or in another inaccessible place.
Do not attempt to remove it with burning paper, smoke, or fire.
Likewise, you should not blindly push long poles or other objects into the chimney that could injure the bird or damage the chimney draft.
It is advisable to contact a chimney sweep and, depending on the situation, also an animal rescue station.
4. Can I flood the bird immediately after rescuing it?
If a bird is stuck in the chimney, it must be checked whether it is completely clear and whether there is any damage.
For example, nesting material, feathers, or other impurities might have been left behind.
Even after the deflector has been removed, its correct installation must be checked.
If you are unsure about the condition of your chimney or stove, have it checked by a professional before relighting it.
A blocked exhaust path can cause smoke and dangerous exhaust gases to re-enter the room.
5. How can you prevent birds from getting into the chimney?
One possible solution is to adequately protect the chimney opening, for example by means of a structure that prevents birds from entering.
However, such protection must not obstruct the flow of flue gases, disturb the chimney draft, or conflict with the requirements of the chimney system.
Therefore, it is advisable to consult a chimney sweep to obtain a concrete solution.
Furthermore, the protection of wildlife in chimneys where birds nest must be taken into account. Active nests must not be removed arbitrarily.
What can you take away from this?
If you hear scratching, rustling, or wing-flapping noises coming from your chimney or oven, there might be a bird inside.
In such a situation, you should not light a fire or try to drive the bird away with smoke or fire.
If the bird is in a cold, fire-filled room and can safely fly out, provide a quiet escape route for it.
If it is stuck behind the deflector or inside the chimney, professional help may be required.
Before you put the oven back into operation, make sure that the flue is clear and that all oven components are correctly positioned.