Having a bird nest removed from your property will usually cost around $600, but pricing varies depending on the bird species, nest location, cleanup needs, number of nests, and more.
Bird nest removal costs $600 on average but can range from $100 to $2,000. This includes professional bird removal labor fees of $50 to $100 per hour. Removing an active bird’s nest is illegal, depending on the species. But it's completely humane to remove an inactive bird’s nest or one that’s in a dangerous spot for nesting birds. The actual price depends on factors such as location, preventative measures, and bird type. Learn how each factor contributes to your total bird removal costs, as well as tips on how to get rid of birds with or without a pro.
Whether you’re tired of having to clean bird poop from outdoor furniture or birds are nesting in unsafe spots around your home, you may be able to remove the nest (depending on the situation).
From the nest's location to the extent of cleanup and preventative measures, we’ll cover how several factors affect how much it costs to remove an inactive bird's nest below.
Birds nest in all kinds of places, and where they ultimately choose to call home can impact how much it costs to remove them. It may require more time and materials to remove empty bird's nests from tricky locations.
For example, if a bird's nest is in an easy-to-reach location, such as a vent, it’ll cost $200 to $500 for removal. Compared to an inactive nest in a hard-to-reach area, like a roof, you’ll end up paying $300 to $2,000.
You may also want to consider hiring a local air duct cleaning pro after removal to ensure everything is properly sanitized.
Some birds, like pigeons, roost in flocks, which often requires the removal of more than one bird, as well as more extensive cleanup, which can drive your bird removal costs upward of $1,000. For birds that don’t flock and have smaller nests, like robins, it’ll cost $100 to $350 for removal and cleanup.
Keep in mind that you can’t get rid of a bird’s nest that’s active. Instead, you’ll need to contact a local wildlife control company and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure you can safely and legally move them to a better location.
Here’s how much it’ll cost on average to remove nests from different types of birds:
| Bird Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Crow | $100–$300 |
| Pigeon (single) | $100–$300 |
| Pigeon (flock) | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Robin | $100–$350 |
| House martin | $300–$500 |
| House sparrow | $300–$500 |
| Barn swallow | $100–$650 |
| Woodpecker | $450–$650 |
The number of nests your pro has to remove can increase your project’s total cost because of labor fees and materials required to resolve the issue. For example, if there are empty nests in vents throughout your home, it’ll cost $200 to $500 per vent.
Many bird removal professionals offer a cleanup service along with inactive bird nest removal. This service typically includes removing all feathers and droppings before fully sanitizing the area to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Depending on the extent of the cleanup, this service can add anywhere from $50 to $300 to the total bird removal costs.
Many birds return to the inactive, removed nest's location to build another nest in the same spot, so it's a good idea to install preventative measures that deter them. This typically involves installing spikes in areas of the building that birds are drawn to. Spikes start around $20 per 10 feet of plastic spikes, but stainless steel spikes often cost around $35 per 10 feet.
Your geographical location will impact the total cost of your project due to labor fees. The typical wildlife removal cost for birds ranges from $50 to $100 per hour, but your pro’s hourly rate can be more or less than the nation’s average range.
Birds can build nests in all sorts of areas in and around your home, like your roof, vents, and attic. Where the bird nests can affect the cost of removal, since some of these places are harder to access than others.
| Nest Location | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Chimney | $175–$800 |
| Eaves (roof overhang) | $300–$1,000 |
| Roof | $300–$2,000 |
| Vents | $200–$500 per vent |
| Attic | $300–$600 |
| Gutters | $1,350–$1,700 per 200 square feet |
It's not uncommon for a bird to make a nest in a chimney. In addition to removing the empty nest from the chimney, you should also install a screen to prevent birds from making a nest there in the future. The cost for nest removal and to install the screen usually ranges from $175 to $800.
Many birds build nests in houses' eaves. Often, it's just fine to leave these nests alone, but if you're bothered by excessive bird droppings or worried that the nest's location can cause harm to you or the bird, then removal is an option.
It typically costs $300 to $1,000 to remove inactive nests from eaves and install preventative mesh wiring.
Some birds, like pigeons, love to build nests high up on the roof. Since this is a tough-to-reach area, it generally costs more to remove nests from it.
You might also want to install humane spikes with dull tips during the removal to prevent birds from returning. This keeps them from landing and nesting without harming them. The cost to remove the bird's inactive nest from the roof and install spikes ranges from $300 to $2,000.
If you have a bird's nest in your vent and it's still active, your pro will need to check if it’s legal to relocate it, remove the bird, clean the vent, and set up preventative measures to keep the birds from returning. This process usually costs $200 to $500 per vent.
Small birds, like sparrows and starlings, can often make their way into your attic to build a nest. Removing a bird's nest from an attic and installing preventative measures typically costs $300 to $600, depending on how easy it is to access the empty nest and clean the surrounding area.
Since the weight of a nested bird can cause a gutter to break, it's not a safe place for the bird to live. A pro can safely remove the bird and relocate its nest, depending on national, state, and local laws if the nest is active.
If the nest is inactive, it can be safely removed. After removal, your pro will install gutter guards, usually made with a plastic or mesh screen, as well as sealant, to prevent the birds from returning. This process usually costs around $1,350 to $1,700 per 200 square feet.
Most birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to destroy a nest with eggs or chicks in it or if there are young birds that still depend on it for their survival. You can sometimes obtain a permit to remove an active nest, but these permits are usually only issued if the nest is a safety concern to humans or the birds.
To ensure your removal is legal and falls under regulations, you should always hire a professional bird removal company in your area to remove an active nest.
In addition to making sure the removal is legal, an experienced bird removal professional can remove the bird and its nest safely and humanely, helping you avoid potentially costly problems down the road. They can also perform proper cleanup, sanitation, and preventative services to deter the bird from returning.
If you're confident you can legally and safely remove an inactive bird’s nest, you can save on labor fees that a pro would charge to complete this project. However, if it’s still nesting season, you don’t know the laws or bird type, or the nest is in an unsafe place for you to reach, like your roof, then leave this job to the pros. They’ll have a solution for bird and nest removal that’s best for you and your feathered friends.
To remove an inactive bird’s nest, the supplies you need are protective gloves, a plastic bag for disposal, and a spray bottle with 1 part bleach and 9 parts water cleaning solution.
If you have these supplies around your home, this project will cost you nothing. If you need to buy them, expect to pay $15 for just the bird removal cost. If you want to install preventive measures as well, you’ll pay $20 per 10 feet of plastic spikes or $35 per 10 feet for stainless steel spikes.
It can be hard to know the difference between a normal and problematic amount of birds on your property. While the occasional chirping and stray feather is nothing to worry about, there’s nothing normal about finding your home surrounded by droppings, nonstop sounds, and foul odors. Watch out for the following to ensure the birds never take you by surprise.
Excessive bird droppings and feathers around your home
Large gatherings of birds
Nonstop sounds
Damage to the outside and inside (like the attic) of your home
Bad smells
Nesting materials in gutters
Additional companion pests
Both spikes and loose nets can be installed over nest sites to prevent the bird from returning, but nets are not a humane option since birds and other wildlife can get tangled in them.
Spikes are a humane alternative that deter nesting without harming the birds. In small areas, like vents, a very fine mesh net can be installed to prevent the bird from returning. These nets don't generally pose a risk to the birds.
Popular nesting areas outside of a home include eaves, porches, gutters, and chimneys. However, some birds can make their way into your attic or ventilation systems. A reputable removal service will inspect your home's interior and exterior for any evidence of roosting and nesting birds while they prepare to remove them.
The life span of a bird’s nest depends on the type of bird building and occupying it. The process of building the nest can take anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks. From there, the baby birds may need anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks before leaving the nest. While most birds will be grown enough to spread their weeks within 2 to 6 weeks, certain birds (namely predatorial ones) may not be ready for up to 2 1/2 months.
