Chimney Protection
Which chimney cap or guard do I need? Start with the flue, not the bird. The one question that decides what you need is whether the chimney is still in use. A flue that serves a fire, stove or boiler must stay open and ventilated, so it must never be capped. If you are not sure, have the chimney checked before you order.
Disused chimney: cap it. The C-Cap disused chimney cap seals the pot against nesting birds, squirrels, rain, snow and leaves, and reduces the heat lost up an unused flue. The standard size fits round pots up to 280mm external diameter for £24.70. The large size fits pots up to 330mm for £29.01 in terracotta or £34.10 in buff.
Working chimney: guard it. The chimney pot mesh balloon pushes into the pot, suits all types of heating appliance and comes in 150mm, 200mm and 225mm sizes, from £14.94. The decorative universal pot guard fits 150mm to 225mm pots and stops birds perching or nesting while the flue stays open. It costs £31 in terracotta, or £33 in black or silver.
Birds sitting on the stack: spike it. If pigeons, gulls or jackdaws are landing on the pots rather than getting into them, the chimney bird deterrent spike wraps around round and square pots for £29.75. The Scarborough chimney spike is bent to shape on site for gulls on or between pots, or where the stack meets the roof, for £32.40.
Measure the pot first. Measure across the top of the pot before you order. The C-Cap is sized by the external diameter of the pot, and the mesh balloon and pot guard suit pots of 150mm to 225mm (6 to 9 inches).
Fit it before the birds come back. Jackdaws nest in chimneys in the spring. All wild birds are protected by law, and an active nest with eggs or young in it must not be disturbed, so autumn and winter are the time to fit a cap or guard, once any old nest material has been cleared. Our guide to bird control and the law explains the rules.
What it costs. Our guide to how much it costs to cap a chimney compares every option, with a worked example. Prices here include VAT and were checked on 8 October 2026.
Want it fitted instead? EnviroGuard supplies the parts and does not install. Chimney work is done at height, so if you would rather not do it yourself, request an installation quote from us and we will arrange it through our recommended installer, JG Pest Control, a sister company in the Tyro group. Our bird control installers page sets out who covers what.
