Got a call from an apartment complex. They have several cook stove hood vents that have birds in them. Tennets are finding straw from bird nest on their stoves. As well as white wash running down the walls. Once I get the birds out, they will screen the vents. I have not seen the problem area. Going Monday. Any tips and help would be appreached (s).

Going to need a spear like frog size , black tape , chimney poles , 11 ga or better wire , screw drive , small socket set , duct tape , small shop vac with extended hose , garbage bags , good breather and googles with no vent holes should about cover it . I would nt expect all tendents to be as helpful as others . I would also remember who's paying you because the tendents will be looking for info to use againts the owner . I would just say I don't know I'm just the guy here that removes birds nest not the health dep or something like that . You go wearing protective gear looking like its a toxic dump they will be asking why . Bird poo is nothing to play with

Home Depot sells a nice vent cleaner kit. I use it on dryer vent lines, should work the same on stove vents. It comes with a brush that attaches to fiberglass flexible poles that attach to a drill. I think the kit was $14.99

Jim, it sounds just like a job I did a few years back. If it's the same, you will marvel at how anyone could install something like this and not expect bird problems.

I remove the vent hood and do it from the inside.........

I keep waiting for this type of call, I've had 3 where they thought birds, no straw no white droppings, all were rock young rock squirrels that jumped in and couldn't get out. Made for some interesting stories!

Same here. Most of can pull the screen drop the fan and get full access. The nasty part is the twenty years of grease build up.

Okay Justin, you got me. Do rock squirrels play in a band or what?

Here,,,they have a wind damper,,,,,a flap that is gravity closed...I have bent one to many, so i drop the hole unit..

Hepa filter is running and kitchen is protected by plastic....Just started using "track mats"

They are hardcore rockers Paul!

They squeak in a very high pitched bird mimicking sound that causes all these homeowners to think they have
birds out here. I had 2 in 2 days last year far opposite sides of the city, not sure if they are on top of the flat roof
and dive in to investigate or if they see a raptor and dive in to avoid death? Either way, they can't seem to climb that metal pipe.

They look like your gray squirrels and those I grew up with in upstate NY, but they are primarily ground dwelling. They readily climb
for food, safety, etc... but most burrows are among prairie dog type colonies and in the bushes and around foundations.

Get lots of "I used to feed the squirrels and rabbits in the yard, but now I think one has moved into my walls or foundation, can you come catch it?"

Um..... Lightbulb!

Justin, a lightbulb just went on in my head. I got a call to a second story condo. "There's a rabbit under my bed". So, laughing to myself, I look under the bed and sure enough. There was a nice plump cottontail rabbit. And how it got there nobody knows.

do what vink said if the nest goes all the way back in or the birds got all the way back. I use rods with a hook of sorts if the nesting is only a couple feet in length. I have the customer turn the fan on so it helps push out the light stuff. watch the young birds if there is any they will run back and you will need to do what vink said

12 ga from below.

Update. Went today. Pipe is 6 in metal pipe. About 6 ft in to where it drops down onto the fan and filter over the stove. Just above the fan and filter is a cuboard that the pipe goes up through. In the cuboard is a 8 in long coupler. Easy to open. Inside were 6 or 7 dead starlings. Smell was not good.
Out side was a vent cover with a flip door that the birds were opening to get inside. 4 screws held the vent cover on. Took cover off and cleaned out the pipe. Put everything back together. Son was with me. I worked outside, son worked inside took maybe 1/2 hr. Now the complex wants a bid to do all the apts.
Thank you all for the help. Made things much easier.

You know if the people who design this stuff ever start thinking about wildlife, we are going to be out a fortune.

Paul, I've often thought the same thing.

x3