How do I keep woodpeckers from making holes in the chimney?

You ca buy an artificial owl - it works. But they also sell a woodpecker kit - it costs about $20-$25

Aren't they pecking for bugs, food. If so make sure that isn't the issue first,if that's the problem get rid of bugs. Either way an owl will look nice up there.

Scare The Woodpecker Away - For as much noise as a woodpecker can make, they actually do not like other loud sounds. But if you are not home all the time it is difficult to make the noise required to scare away this winged carpenter. You can however get motion sensors that will make a noise when they sense the bird. They can be extremely effective because they do not allow the bird to get comfortable and so it will just find another place. One of the other ways to scare the woodpecker with noise is by playing specific sounds that will frighten it away. The sounds do not have to be loud but if the wood pecker hears a fellow bird in distress along with the sounds of a bird of prey it will fly away. You can get these recordings at home and gardening stores everywhere.

You can also use plastic molds of those birds of prey the woodpecker is afraid of. They include owls or hawks but they have to be realistic for the deception to work. You must also keep changing their location so the unwanted bird does not catch on to the fact that they are not real. Using those fake birds together with their sounds is even more effective. Plastic snakes can also work because they are all natural predators. Woodpeckers prefer to stay in a place they feel comfortable in, so if you keep the noise and the scare tactics going it will not stay for long.

Use Woodpecker Repellents - There are repellents you can also utilize to keep woodpeckers away. There is bird repellent tape that can be bought at home and garden stores that is pretty effective in keeping the birds from coming to your house. There is also the homemade option of installing something that will reflect the sunlight. Aluminum foil works perfectly and it is something you may already have in your house. You can choose to hang strips of aluminum foil close to where the woodpecker is working, or you can even use an aluminum foil pan as they too will reflect the sunlight.

My neighbor shot the woodpecker around his house...thought it was awful but some people don't care.