Six hours for a dead bird is rough, man. That smoke shelf catches everything and half the time it's not even the problem you think it is. Been there with a chimney in Prestonsburg where the "blockage" was a busted up squirrel nest and I swore it was creosote the whole drive over. At least you know the flue is clear now, that's the one good thing about a wasted trip like that. Dead bird beats a cracked liner any day, so count the small wins I guess.