Are cats a danger to chickens?

[Jetiki]

my cats learned the hard way not to mess with the chickens. The score here is Chickens 4 Cats 0 I have 9 chickens, 2 roos one large 12 lbs cat was thinking he was going to get an easy meal, chicken squawked the others circled the cat so the cat was surrounded by chickens cat didn't know he was surrounded until one of the chickens squawked behind him, chickens all then proceeded to peck the cat and chase him off. Cat won't go anywhere near the chickens now. All cats have been handled in this manner. I have a mix of bantams and standards, they all free range together. I have quite the friendly lot and the banty roo has his hens and the standard roo has his hens and no one is grumpy.


Karen

 

[darkmatter]

Yes, cats can and do kill adult chickens. But, not all cats will, some barn cats have become familiar acquaintances to the chickens as they pick thru the scraps tossed to the chickens for tidbits for the cats. A mother hen will protect her chicks from a cat, but when you are raising chicks---they have no attendant protector and the cat will have its way with them if possible. I have had a feral kitten bond with the chicken flock----it would skitter away if it saw me, but I've watched it wander among the chickens as tho it was one of them. So, the answer to your question is "depends"

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Yes cats are bad! I have lost quail and Bantams, chicks

 

[tnchickenut]

I have 6 cats and all six are very calm around the chickens. It really depends on the chicken and the cat, though. A wild cat would certainly try because it already sees smaller animals as food and it probrably is hungery.... but a well fed house cat (concidering the chickens aren't tiny) shouldn't bother with them. I wish I had got my pictures off my old cell before changing it over.... I had one of my cat laying in the chicken run and the chickens sleeping with it.

 

[77horses]

I wouldn't trust the feral cats...although like some said, it does depend on the chicken. Our three big roosters would of course attack them if they came near any of their hens, and I know that a few of our hens would as well if they were cornered by a cat. If one of our dogs tries to get too close to one of the chickens, the rooster will try and attack him. So if they don't fear our dogs, they probably won't fear a cat either. In fact on of our neighbor's cats wondered over one time when the chickens were free ranging and was taking a look at the rooster. The rooster obviously didn't like it because when the cat got a little too close, he made a loud alarm noise and the cat ran off so fast and never came back.

So it does depend on the chicken and the cat. If it's a cat that isn't afraid of the chicken, they might attempt to attack one. But if it's a big chicken that is aggressive and fights back and doesn't fear cats, the chicken, especially a rooster, will probably overpower the cat and scare it off. But I would still be careful even if you do have a protective hen/rooster. Better safe than sorry. Smaller/younger chickens, such as chicks or Bantams, are especially vulnerable.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Yep, they are a real danger

I do realize this may be the exception rather then the rule though.
Our cats are about 3 years ol. and from the time they were tiny, we have trained them like you would a dog, and also made sure that they love getting their bellies scratched and rubbed.

We have had chickens for close to a year, and they were rather fascinated at first, but understand yes and no very well.
The result today, is the picture you see above.

 

[fowltemptress]

My neighbor's mostly-indoor cat pounced . . . actually pounced! . . . on my little cochin. I'm surprised it survived from the thwacking I gave it. I grew up with barn cats that never looked twice at chickens, even my little sebrights. So your answer is, like for so many things, "It depends."

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
You can tell in that picture that the cat literally loves the chicks. The paws are "milk stepping", the smerk on the cats face and the eyes squinted as it touches it's nose to the chick... all a cats way of saying, "I love you." Very cute.

Sorry but I have been raised with cats and I study animal social behavior... that cat loves the chicks like they were kittens.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Awwww sooo cute!

 

[Andora]

My outdoor cat kills wild birds, but she is friends with the chickens. She chased them at first and was quickly met with beaks and claws to the face. Now they have a healthy respect for each other. She will go out and lay in the pen with them or in their coops and they don't mind her at all. If a stray cat comes around or one of my indoor cats get out then the chickens freak out and sound the alarm! Isn't it funny how they specifically recognize my outdoor kitty as their friend but all other cats are enemies?

For what it's worth the stray cats have never bothered my chickens. It does make me a little nervous though. I doubt they could take out a full grown bird, but I do have one feisty bantam rooster that would not back down. I worry the most about him.