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Do domestic cats kill chickens?

post #1 of 37
12/5/10 at 7:35am
Thread Starter 

We have an indoor/outdoor cat and a flock of full grown hens.

A couple of weeks ago one of our hens was killed in the late morning. the kill site (where it looked like the Australorp exploded) was about 25 feet from the place the body was left. The body was found at the edge of the fenceline.

There was minimal flesh gone. An area about 4" square was eaten but it only went about 1/4" deep. So whatever killed her didn't eat much.

We put up a portable garage in the hen yard in hopes of preventing an arial attack ... if a bird had killed the first hen.

Friday morning there was a huge pile of Australorp feathers in the middle of the portable garage. I couldn't find the body in the large hen yard. Yesterday, we saw the cat eating something along the fenceline and on further inspection we located the remains of the missing hen.

We know that the cat is a hunter since he often brings home squirrels, rodents, and an occasional bird. But do cats  hunt chickens? He free feeds in the house so I know he shouldn't be hungry.

We have a mixed flock of birds in many colors (including some Polish). Are preditors more drawn to dark birds? I am wondering why both of our losses have been Australorps (we had only 3 in our flock of 24).

Any information would be appreciated.

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post #2 of 37
12/5/10 at 7:43am

Sounds like a coon. At my house its the opposite the chickens flog the cat.

Animals at The Moment: Rabbits (7), Chickens (31), Ducks (2), and Honeybee Hives (1)

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Animals at The Moment: Rabbits (7), Chickens (31), Ducks (2), and Honeybee Hives (1)

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post #3 of 37
12/5/10 at 7:46am

Some will and some won't.  It would be safest to reinforce the henyard so nothing, including the cat, can get in.

(It might have been eating somebody else's kill - but that may give it ideas! hmm )

* Where Can I Get Baby Chicks?

* The Trouble with Roosters

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* Where Can I Get Baby Chicks?

* The Trouble with Roosters

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post #4 of 37
12/5/10 at 7:48am

The cat probably just found the dead chicken and decided to try it.  Maybe she was just hungry.  My neighbors on both sides have outdoor cats (mine are indoor only) and both cats spend a lot of time in and around my coop, catching mice, drinking water,  and just generally socializing with the hens.  I wouldn't let them near baby chicks, but  I doubt that a cat would attempt anything on a full grown chicken, especially with a protective rooster around.  My roo tolerates the cats, which means he doesn't think they are a threat to his hens.
He gets between the hens and my dogs, however, even though the dogs are on the other side of the fence.

I don't think the cat had anything to do with the murder.

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post #5 of 37
12/5/10 at 7:53am

Only wild Ferral cats kill chickens!!!!!!!
Normally the adult hens will attack a domestic cat and give it a thrashing!!!!!! A domestic Cat will however kill chicks.
Chirckens have killed Foxes - so a cat wouldn;t stand a chance. - I think your cat just found the dead body it didn;t kill her.

Oesdog wink

Oesdog -  cool.png Blessed are the cross-eyed for they shell inherit twice as much! tongue2.gif                                       
The teddy bear hymn? Gladly the cross-eyed bear! lau.gif
7 hens, 1 little dog, 1 BIG DOG, 1 cat, 1 DH, 3 adult sons,1 adult girl/SIL and Grand baby girl.

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Oesdog -  cool.png Blessed are the cross-eyed for they shell inherit twice as much! tongue2.gif                                       
The teddy bear hymn? Gladly the cross-eyed bear! lau.gif
7 hens, 1 little dog, 1 BIG DOG, 1 cat, 1 DH, 3 adult sons,1 adult girl/SIL and Grand baby girl.

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post #6 of 37
12/5/10 at 9:06am

One of my cats will kill a chicken in a heartbeat, but she's an exception rather than the rule.

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

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If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

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post #7 of 37
12/5/10 at 10:19am
  • Imp
  • All things share the same breath- Chief Seattle

My cats are terrified of the chickens. The really wild feral will give up his food a disappear if I let the chickens out. Around here I have to protect the cats from the hens.

Imp

 

 

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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post #8 of 37
12/5/10 at 10:26am

Agreed -- I wouldn't trust cats around little chicks, but it would be VERY uncommon for a cat to take on (and especially win) over a full-sized, adult chicken.  The cat probably just took advantage of the opportunity when it found the dead chicken.  It does sound more like a raccoon or fox.  My condolences on your losses; I hope you can reinforce the coop/run or catch the predator.  hugs

Momma loves her babies!  8 cats, 45 inside birds, 3 guineas,  RIRs, BRs,  BOs ,  Lorpie girls, Golden Comets, OEGB  BBreds, bantam frizzle cochins,  3 white Silkies, EEs, some silkie/cochin mixes, silkie/frizzles, ducks (3 white Pekins, 1 buff Saxony & 1 Silver Appleyard), and 1 Blue Slate turkey who thinks she's a chicken...   (did I miss anyone?...)  Nope!  Now let's all have pie. 
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Momma loves her babies!  8 cats, 45 inside birds, 3 guineas,  RIRs, BRs,  BOs ,  Lorpie girls, Golden Comets, OEGB  BBreds, bantam frizzle cochins,  3 white Silkies, EEs, some silkie/cochin mixes, silkie/frizzles, ducks (3 white Pekins, 1 buff Saxony & 1 Silver Appleyard), and 1 Blue Slate turkey who thinks she's a chicken...   (did I miss anyone?...)  Nope!  Now let's all have pie. 
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post #9 of 37
12/5/10 at 12:29pm

my cats love chickens here is the proof!!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/71231_catchicks_007.jpg

2 black sexlinks, 1 RIR, 1 brown leghorn, 1 plymoth barred, pullets 1 Austrolorp, 1 Eastereggers, 2 barred rock, 2 RIR
1 EE roo,
1 dog 1 house cat 10 barn cats(0 mice)
I need to find homes for some chicken friendly cats 10 is too many PM me if interested.
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2 black sexlinks, 1 RIR, 1 brown leghorn, 1 plymoth barred, pullets 1 Austrolorp, 1 Eastereggers, 2 barred rock, 2 RIR
1 EE roo,
1 dog 1 house cat 10 barn cats(0 mice)
I need to find homes for some chicken friendly cats 10 is too many PM me if interested.
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post #10 of 37
12/5/10 at 12:32pm

Feral cats YES, they are capable of killing a chicken.

Domesticated, pussy-wussy kind of cat,  nope, they are too weak to kill a chicken and they rather avoid them at all costs except for unprotected baby chicks.

President of the Welsummer Club of North America & BYC Member since 4/11/2002 and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens

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President of the Welsummer Club of North America & BYC Member since 4/11/2002 and Appenzeller Spitzhaubens

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