Are cats a threat to my chickens?

[nicktide]

I was watching a tom cat stalking my birds. I let him go, knowing he would learn a lesson when my roo tore him up. My rooster can be nasty or sweet, but when it comes to protecting his girls, he is pure B.A.. He is an 8 month old white leghorn. No spurs yet. I have seen him chase off a redtail that had gotten a hen and in February, a small hawk got into the run and the roo had it pinned down on the ground against the fence, flogging it for about 15 seconds.
As for the cat, when the rooster saw him he went after the cat. The cat ran. LOL.
On a side note, unless you NEED cats for rodent control, please keep them inside. They really hurt our echo system. I havn't seen a wild pheasant or a Bob White Quail in at least 15 years... DNR says mostly because of cats. Plus, the cat has to face other cats, dogs, coons and cars if they are outside. I have burried 2 cats in the last few years that were hit by cars and came to my yard to die.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

I have about 10 cats outside, live on a small farm, and have seen my hens chase the poor cats around the house and actually seen them jump on top of an old cat that didn't run fast enough and wear him out. I had to "save" him. lol When there is a stare down, the cat always turns away first.

My cats are all neutered. I suppose a big ole Tom cat might try his luck and succeed on hurting one of the adult hens...if none of the roosters were looking. One really should have at least one 'roo!

Now would not trust any cats, even mine, with young chicks like yours...lil McNuggets are too tempting!

 

[smokeater413]

I lost 9 2 week old chicks in one night to feral cats, after they were old enough to go into the run I caught cats on the top of my run which is covered in 2x4 welded wire and 6 ft high. needless to say we now have 4 cats that will no longer bother my chicks.

 

[omelette'smom]

My cat is deathly afraid of my chickens. Would never let him near a chick though. He loves to "fetch" and sometimes eat small vermin and birds. I would cover the run unless they are large enough to scare the neighbors cats.

 

[Davaroo]

Most cats won't mess with even a one full grown chicken, let alone a flock of them.

Now, they will hang around and be interested, because they are cats. It's what they do. But most flocks are safe from the neighborhood feline.
The chickens dont know that, though. They will act like their very lives are at stake every time the cat comes around, because they are chickens. It's what they do.

But cats will snag chicks if they can, so be wary.

 

[sewchick]

Quote:
I am wondering too. I had a white cat in the yard this morning. Got the pistol out and fired it in the air. I didn't kill it even though I could of. I am thinking of using a have a heart trap I bought last year. The cat was filthy. Not skinny. So I am thinking it's someones pet. Scared our poor Molly cat. I will keep an eye for a few days until I can get a mobile cage built. Had I seen it attack I would have shot it. I couldn't find very many posts on this subject. Maybe cats are not so much of a threat?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
I am wondering too. I had a white cat in the yard this morning. Got the pistol out and fired it in the air. I didn't kill it even though I could of. I am thinking of using a have a heart trap I bought last year. The cat was filthy. Not skinny. So I am thinking it's someones pet. Scared our poor Molly cat. I will keep an eye for a few days until I can get a mobile cage built. Had I seen it attack I would have shot it. I couldn't find very many posts on this subject. Maybe cats are not so much of a threat?

They can be a threat to other cats, mostly. Feral cats can harbor some pretty wicked diseases, which they spread to your own cats and other animals. They will also ravage a tame housecat if there is an altercation. They are pretty much tough guy bullies on this score.

I suppose one that is really starving might go after chickens, but it is the least likely scenario. But since other wild creatures will prey on them, like coyotes, they might bring someone to supper that is far worse than themselves.

We could rightly argue and bemoan "negligent cat owners" for the rest of the week, as the cause of feral cat problems - and someone probably will. It's one of the most heated topics here at 'critter friendly' BYC.
But, no matter how much wrangling we do over responsibility, animal rights or how much to donate to PETA, the situation boils down to this:

You must compare the loss of a few mangy cats here and there against the over all good of your home stead.

I dont advocate indiscriminate killing, but sad to say for the cat, they normally lose in this comparison.

 

[whatthecluck]

so for free ranging hens without a rooster in a neighborhood full of cats what is the solution? I have not yet let my hens out to free range, as it is just warm enough now...but there seems always to be a cat in our yard other than ours. We are currently fencing the property so in a few weeks I was hoping to free range the gals right along with my dog (nearly 8 year old lazy old dane who would just as soon sunbathe w/chickens as eat his own food lol)...and had been worried about our own cat too.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Love the username! "Whatthecluck!!"

The solution? Work. Effort. Confrontation.

1. First, watch the cats. Again, most cats wont mess with a grown chicken. And cats don't work together as a pack of dogs might. So there may be no issue other than an imagined one.

2. But if that isnt your bag, then the first thing you must do is talk to the cats owners. They must be made to understand that cats running loose are fair game. Not only for you, but for other cats, coyotes, disease, death, etc. Talk to them.
But since these are cats, their so-called owners wont listen. They never do.
But do your due diligence, anyway.

3. Next, humanely trap the kitties and place them back in the care of their owners, with the admonition that they have yet again failed in their responsibilites.

They still won't listen.

4. Continue to trap the kitties and return them.
But now call the sheriff and/or animal control people. Occasionally, these municipal strongarms are of some use.
This is one of those times.

5. Continue to monitor the tabby population and trap them as needed.
It's highly likely that they will learn to avoid your place with all this attention focused on them.

6. Last resort is death for the cats, IF they attack your livestock.
If all they do is hang around to watch the "chicken ballet," doing little more than making you fret, well, okay.**
But in every place I've heard of, livestock deprivation is grounds for eradication. Having a record of issue on file with the local LE folks will help your case, here. (remember, in the eyes of the law they're not "free ranging babies" - they're poultry.)

But chances are good that numbers 1-5 will be enough.

** Honestly, I'm concerned more about the wild animals that are attracted to prey on a domestic cat. I mean, if they can snag, kill and eat a cat, how much trouble do you think a chicken will be?

============================================

Now as for you, the chicken owner. You didn't think you were getting off Scot-free, did you?
The notion of "free ranging" is very much abused. Real life is not like the movie "Chicken Run."

We buy, rear and invest in chickens, only to turn them loose - thinking that they should be simply free to wander at will...

"Go, ye chickens, and live unfettered! The sun is shining and all is right with the world."

Truth is, there are all sorts of perils awaiting them out there in the great beyond... the least of which are a few kitty cats. Soon we are surprised when we find they've been devoured, succumbed to some horrid disease or something they've indiscriminately eaten.
Or worse, they set up camp in the far grove of trees, and ignore us... after all we've done for them.

Or, perhaps, we howl to the heavens about someones cats running around, or a fox in the vicinity. But, we think nothing of laying out a running chicken buffet or infesting the neighborhood with our "feathered friends."

In either case, the failure lies with us. Chickens are best managed... husbanded... given stewardship. Take your pick. Otherwise they become more part of the landscape, than pets or useful livestock. There's a reason why people call free-run chickens 'scrubs', after all.

Consider that chickens will do far more for you, and you for them, if you control their movements.

Thanks for listening.. I mean,"whatthecluck!" (I love that!

)

 

[Sallyschickens]

Watch out for the chicks until they are full sized...even if they are with their mother and flock. I learned that the hard way.

And watch out for the smaller breeds, even as adults. My mother has free-range frizzles and she heard one of them squacking like crazy. When she got out to her driveway she saw a big black cat carrying it away. My mom chased that cat and it dropped the chicken and took off. The chicken is fine now.

My RIR bonked my own fat house cat on the head and my cat stays clear of the chickens now. It was pretty funny because my cat must weigh 14 lbs, he looks like a racoon! HE is the chicken!!

We have a Saint Bernard/Great Pier mix that shephards our property, so we never have preditor problems. We got her from the shelter, she was scheduled to be put down the next day. She has been a hard worker for us ever since...no coyotes, no coons no NOTHING that does not belong. We call her "The Bouncer", real name is Kate. (Kate as in Kate Moss, because she was skin and bones when we got her.) She is worth her weight in gold.

Good Luck!
-Sally