Sad dumb bird...

[CTReptileRescue]

Okay,
This is a bit disgusting, yes even for me.. but I need help.
We have had this really annoying starling, in our house for about five days. We caught it twice after it flew in the house through an open doorway. We released it and it came back. I know what is this bird thinking? I bet he likes the warmth but if he only knew that he was a snack in our home...
Anyhow Lunch the cat isn't very phased by the intruder, probably because he grew up with things moving around all over the house.
So there is this bird......
Well now there is this smell.....
It is in the bathroom where the bird would fly into a hole (where a pipe leads) into the floor. We haven't seen or heard the bird for two days now, and the smell is horrific. Yes sadly I know what dead smells like. But this time I cannot clean it, It is driving me mad. Since we rent I am not comphtorable ripping the bathroom floor up. And since this is a very very old house (built in the 1790's) there is nothing but wood and dust between my down stairs neighbors ceiling and our floor. So lord knows how far my sad feathered friend went.
So, what to do..
Any ideas. Best one I've got is to borrow the shop vac from work and try and suck it out (yuck).
Anyone have any ideas, I've got to get this smell out. It is killing me.
At least when we are home I can light my yankee candle that is in there (christmas cookies, haven't smelt it yet, it is the best, anyhoo) that helps, but I can'y leave it burning 24/7.
And I don't want flies or bugs .
What to do...
Any ideas would be so much appreciated.
Thanks for reading my yucky dead bird situation..
Rusty

[recycling goddess]

either get ahold of the landlord and get them to handle it... or if your home has a basement, remove the ceiling and get at it from underneath.

good luck

[wolfy-hound]

You can try the vacuum idea, or pour some borax down there to join it. Or hey, stuff the hole afterwards to keep the smell out. Even plaster it over.
To be very morbid, the smell should disappate soon, if there is no way to remove it. A starling hasn't a lot of body mass, and it should soon dry up. Sorry, no non-ewww way to say that.
Sometimes birds are... birdbrains, sorry couldn't resist.
wolfy(who very much hopes something helped.)

[iceman25]

I doubt a shop vac would be strong enough to suck it out. May have to remove sections of the wall and cut it out

[Ironhead]

Except for ripping it apart.....Maggot's, air-freshener and patience will take care of it soon enough. :-}

[recycling goddess]

well... what ended up happening? did you choose the maggots?

[CTReptileRescue]

Sorry guys for the late reply,
Yeah disgustingly enough I went with the maggots, luckily their is no more smell. and their are actually no flies, I had a few small fruit type flies but Winslow killed em before they got out of hand.
Thanks for listening to my sad dumb bird..
Damn thing
Rusty

[recycling goddess]

i'm so glad to hear it's.... over and.... done!