Finding a bird’s nest after opening your gas grill in the spring or after a lengthy hiatus can certainly put a damper on your outdoor plans, especially if the eggs have hatched. Birds are known to build their nests in gutters and ports around your home, and sparrows can enter through holes as small as 1 1/4-inch in diameter. Any quiet, sheltered area such as the inside of your grill can be inviting to get your little bird. Protect your gas grill during winter and when not in use for long stretches of time to avoid uninvited feathered friends appearing in your next backyard barbecue.
Clean out the inside of your grill, removing any previous indications of birds, such as grass, straw and twigs. Clean the outside and inside of the grill with soapy water. Rinse the grill using clean water and let the grill dry.
Wipe the grill grates and burners using coconut oil to prevent rust. Wrap the burners in a plastic garbage bags and tape the bags shut with duct tape.
Close the grill lid. Inspect the grill for any tiny openings. Use utility shears to cut parts of copper mesh from a roll and stuff them into any tiny openings on the grill. The copper mesh will keep birds from going into the grill.
Wrap the grill in bird netting if you live in an area with a tall bird population or have had problems with birds nesting in odd areas around your home in the past. The bird has little opening that birds cannot pass through.
Cover the grill in a grill cover that has an elastic bottom and also a pull strings to fasten it. A good cover will avoid the birds accessing the inside of the building and grill nests.