At what age would cats leave chickens alone?

[jerseygirl1]

Willow's Meadow :

Quote:
How old were your chickens? Oh and what is the age that a standard chicken is full grown?

I hatched my chicks in the incubator in what I call the 'Chicken Room', a spare room. Though, I did cover the brooder with a screen so they wouldn't fly out. I think they are full grown at around 8 months, maybe less?​

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I have no worries about cats with large fowl chickens, and have let an adult flock of RIRs, EEs, and a large white Leghorn rooster free range around cats in the past. Adult chickens will encroach on a cat's comfort zone and zap them with a swift peck between the eyes if necessary. Cats don't seem to relish this sort of attention.

An intimidatingly-sized large fowl rooster is decent cat deterrent.

I wouldn't let bantams or young birds around a cat, though. Anything smaller than the cat is going to be viewed as food.

 

[noodleroo]

You just never know with cats. I love cats. I love my cats but they are not nearly as domesticated as dogs so you never know when their natural instincts will kick in. My 16 yr old cat could not care less about the chicks. He doesn't really 'play' anymore and he is quite well fed so my chicks are probably safe from him. Do I leave the door to the brooder room open? NO. You never know with a cat. Outside, when the chicks are about 4 months, they will probably be big enough for a cat not to consider them prey. Just remember that if a cat does get a claw in you bird, a nasty infection will set in; be prepared to treat the wounds quickly.