Cats and chicks.

Nikimummy5

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2015
10
0
22
Hi guys, I've got 3 hens that free range and one has 3 polish bantam chicks at 5 weeks old. The others have started to accept the chicks and live as a flock but I'm keeping the chicks in when they free range. My cats are not bothered by the hens but I'm not sure when I can let the chicks out with the others. Any advice would be great. Thanks
 
I never let my chicks out until they are fully feathered and at least half of their grown size, and even then only for a short while. Perhaps I'm overly cautious.

Were you meaning to ask about the cats? I have four and they have never bothered a chick, pullet, or hen.
 
X2. I have 5 TNR semi-feral barn cats (trap, neuter, release). They have food available 24/7. I would bet money they would snack on a tiny brooder chick, but they give my hens and my littles a wide birth and ignore them. If your littles are with a group of adults, I wouldn't worry too much.
Edit to add my littles were fully feathered and had 6 older pullets.
 
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Most cats will eat chicken like everyone else, but won't try adult birds or bigger juveniles. The chicks I raise with broody hens have been safe, with one exception. A newly adopted barn cat here did kill and eat a bantam broody; the chicks were adopted by another bantam and all lived. The cat found a new indoor home that week. I've never had another cat issue, but young Polish without a hen might be vulnerable. Have them larger before they are out on their own. Mary
 
Thanks for your replies you confirmed what I was thinking really. Their adopted mum is very big and very protective and my cats have no interest at all in the fully grown hens I was just worried bout the little ones. I will give it a few more weeks and then see how we go at free ranging them. How do I tell when they are fully feathered? They look like they are already.
 

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