Barn Cats Coming :)

[littlekit]

We are adopting three fully grown, healthy, spayed/neutered barn cats. They are coming next Tuesday. Our 8 chickens, 7 hens and a roo, live in the tack room/coop at night and free range during the day. Any advice on keeping the peace with these new cats and my existing flock?

Name ideas for the cats also appreciated!

 

[jerseygirl1]

Hmm - I have four cats, 14 hens and a banty roo, they generally don't bother with any of them

 

[werecatrising]

I have a colony of feral cats. I trap them , have them fixed, and bring them home. I have never had an issue. I do have one hen that will run up to them while they are eating and peck at them, but the cats usually run.

 

[dntd]

My cats are srays and rarely do they come in at night, you might need to make a kitty door so they can come and go freely.

 

[thechickenchick]

We have 10 barn cats. They are in and out of the chicken run all of the time. I have never had a problem. Congrats on your new cats!

Names? Huey, Duey and Louie!!!

Louise if one is a girl!

 

[Keara]

Only cat I had go after the chickens was a mother cat. I think they have a higher pray drive while they are nursing thier young.

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
Who gets the pleasure of reaching into the trap and get the feral cat? I am assuming the vet tranquilzes them in the trap.

 

[werecatrising]

Quote:
Who gets the pleasure of reaching into the trap and get the feral cat? I am assuming the vet tranquilzes them in the trap.

The techs do it. It isn't to hard, we just poke through the trap and give them an injection to knock them out.

 

[littlekit]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling optimistic. I got the pics of the cats yesterday and they are beautiful.
One male and two females.

 

[lilblessings5]

We have barn cats as well. I've seen them drinking out of a water dish with the hens before. They do not bother my full grown hens at all. That being said -I've seen them kill birds and I would not trust them around anything less then 10 weeks old. I think they would go after and kill the smaller chicks.