Chimney - No problems as yet

[Wuckers]

Have a chimney that runs from the ground to the stack, it's been in an uinused state since I moved here 11 years ago. It's always had an open fireplace until now.

Problem was Wood Pigeons landing on the chimney and using it as a toilet, result was after it had dried it would find it's way down to the open grate...which isn't pretty to look at and a health hazard for a young chuld crawling around etc.

I took at different solutions available, the neigbours appear to have a sort of chicken wire ball over the chimney stack...but it appears not to have worked where the Pigeons are concerned as quite often I've seen them on the actuall mesh itself...so no deterrent there.

In the end I plumped for a vented clay cap...I've put it on, Id say the vent holes were big enough all around the edge to be able to provide adequate ventilation and the open grate at the bottom has been kept as it is (cleaned up obviously) and prior to placing the cap on I had the chimney swept etc.

My question is this...by placing a vented cap am I running the risk of damp anywhere? As stated previous the cap holes are quite large, the fireeplace hasn't been altered or blocked up and I can still hear the wind occasionally in it.....

Incidentally, thus far I haven't seen any pigeons land on the flat cap of the vent but I did place some strong cable ties through a couple of the holes and attach a couple of shiny blank cd's through them, not sure if it will have the desired effect long term but so far so good.