I have never kept a cat that killed song birds--one kill is reason to find a new home where risk is less. Never had a house or barn cat that killed chickens--happily, but would have found a new home!
That said, it is up to us to keep our chickens safe from predators of ALL kinds--chickens are prey animals and there are so many lurking about for a chicken dinner. I do not have ANY to feed to predators! SO, after a hawk snatch, I was pretty careful about free ranging. THEN two lovely dogs (wouldn't harm a thing their owner claimed) killed two hens, one with chicks. My dog alerted me, as I was in the house only for a short time--but she couldn't stop them. The two dogs met me, tails wagging telling me what good toys I had in my yard. I dragged them into my dog pen (rarely used, but I never let my dogs roam, either, and had a safe place fof them when I was away. Called the Dog Catcher, who came and picked them up. One dog had an expired license on his collar, and he contacted the owner--as the crowflies, about 3 miles away across two lakes! She paid a good price for the hens, as I had to locate their variety and required shipping expense also.
My chickens now have large pens with netting over the top, apple and plum trees for shade, keep the grass mowed. Do not let them out when the grass is wet, so the pens stay green, except all around the edges where they scratch and have dust baths. They are happy, safe, and I can know they will not be in cages or small pens. It is our responsibility, if we have attractive prey--to keep them SAFE as we can! Good luck!!
I live where there are coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, mink, bobcats, wolves, weasels, varieties of hawks, unexpected traveling dogs, (guests, please keep your dog in your truck/car!) Only predators that are difficult to protect from, are BEARS. And for the first time in 60+ years, had a sow and 2 Grizzly Bear cubs, trash one poultry house and 5 outside summer pens--killed and ate 22 breeding birds, best of years of poultry breeding. Survivors were in 2 other houses, damaged, but not entered. (guess after consuming 22 birds, they were full and tired)/ NOW, the 2 remaining houses have hardware cloth over every window-connected and-ELECTRIFIED. Turn it on every night and off in the morning, after bears are out of their dens in April--until we learn that they are denned again for the winter, in Oct/Nov.! . The State Fish, Wildlife did the work and provided the materials. No, I would dispatch a Raven after my chickens, but only a stupid person, however a skilled hunter, would try to shoot a Grizzly BEAR or BEARS in the dark! And the fine would not be pleasant, either! SSS doesn't work with bears!
Sorry and sad for loss ofThe Dutchess....
