how to get nest out of chimney

[miffy]

Have woodburner, didn't use last year.
Pretty cold already so decided to get stack swept and open it up again.
Sweep came, but problem the Jackdaws who live around here have been dropping twigs down the chimney and now we have a good wedge just above the blanking plate above the stove!!
Sweep says we will have to take bricks out of the stack to remove it!!

Sounds a bit drastic to me.

Could we not take off the blanking plate and get at it that way?

What would you do guys, any advice much appreciated.

Also what is the best type of deterrant to put on the top of the pot once it is all cleared again? Not hubbie with a gun, he is scared of heights. Also am pretty fond of the cheeky fellas got to admire their cheek if nothing else.

[Jardiniere]

get another chimney sweep.....our one cleans the chimney from where it leaves the woodburner right up to the top and he clears the bit inside the burner where the smoke circulates....

[Jeanied]

I think from memory that the blanking plate lifts out of the chimney - just not sure how. Well, it did involve grabbing it and angling it and then lifting.

I know because my gas fitter didn't know how to do it either - I was on the phone to my aged Mother at the time he was trying, so she gave some instructions down the phone which I relayed to the fitter.
After successfully removing said blanking plate his comment was "Is your Mum Corgi registered?!"

[miffy]

Wicked, thanks for that.

[Jeanied]

Are you going to try it for yourself, Miffy? Let us know how you get on!

[Snadger]

There's a man in a red coat with fur round the hood who should be coming at the end of the month. I'm sure his fat posterior will clean it for you!

[Jeanied]

Hi Miffy, me again! Just talked to Mother on the phone. She can't remember my fireplace (well, she is 90) and she still isn't Corgi registered, but she confirms that the throat plate in a chimney has - in her words- 'two little sprogs' one either side that hook in - you need to unhook these and the plate will come out. Now how good is that for 90 - I so want this to work for you!!!

[janeyo]

I watched a Bob The Builder the other day and they got one of of Mr Bentley's chimney. I wasn't paying much attention though so can't tell you what he did.
pmsl
My mum had some sort of chicken wire thing put over the top of her chimney to stop birds coming down.

[bubblewrap]

You could always try this.
YouTube - chimneys dead

[Snadger]

My mate cleans his chimney by sticking a leaf blower up it!

[Eco-Chic]

I think I'd take the advice of Jeanie's mother.

Bubblewrap's suggestion seems a tad OTT IMO.

[miffy]

Bit over the top bubblewrap!!! Would love to have a go at that though! So long as it isn't my chimney.
Jeanie's mum is right re the plate for a cast iron fire, the stove has a fixed plate on it with the pipe going into it and two round holes either side of the chimney pipe, these are taken off to brush the chimney, i was thinking though we need to take the whole plate off.
Seems like a lot of work, re Santa and his large red asset!! He would just squash it in further rather than clear it!!
Watched the jackdaws today attacking next doors chimneys where they have put some chicken wire over the pots to stop them nesting they keep pulling at it, determined little blighters.
Reackon we need to phone Bob up and get him to come and have a look at my pipe work!!

[Hilary B]

Yeah, you need some sort of wire thing on top to prevent recurrence Any fireplace-type shop should sell purpose-made ones, which might resist attack better than a DIY effort.
Is this thing installed with an unlined flue? (that would make life difficult)
If you open the sweeping plate, can you see some of the twigs? (might be possible to pull them out a bit at a time).
Not sure where you could remove bricks to gain access (unless it is an unlined flue, and that is a BAD idea anyway, for a variety of reasons) and most such do have a hatch in the 'ceiling' to the fireplace. Plenty of lined flues have one as well, which allows the surveyor to see the lining<g>.