Bloody cats!

[DaveTaunton]

It's my hens first day out in the garden, they're having a whale of a time. I'm on this forum on my phone, and out of nowhere next doors cat comes tearing in. Thank god for chicken wire is all I can say, and the apples that subsequently got thrown by it so it would go away!

 

[BrendaJ]

You never know what's watching your hens while they are out in the garden. Mine will peck the cats when they are out free ranging.

 

[DaveTaunton]

I'm hoping they'll be able to defend themselves, they were a year old when we got them so I don't see why not. It was just dead unlucky that it was their FIRST day out haha

 

[foreverlearning]

Hens have a hard time defending themselves against full grown healthy cats. I had a stray problem around here and had to take care of it. Since this is your neighbors cat I wouldn't advise anything too drastic, but electric fencing works great. Until then I would supervise your flock and see how much trouble this cat wants to make. Good fences make great neighbors (and their pets).

 

[DaveTaunton]

Yeah the chicken wire helped massively as the cat pretty much faceplanted it, is it ok to just let them roam for bits and bobs during the day? Cos I can't supervise them 24/7

 

[foreverlearning]

That is your choice. I free range mine even when I have to leave the house for a little bit. I have a really good rooster and look to him to warn the girls if there is a problem. If the cat comes after them and you can't find a girl, look up first. They are really good at trying to run for cover and flying up on things when they can't. My rooster was older when I got him and every time I let the dogs out the first 3 days I had to fish him off the roof. I had to put one of them in the coop for a night to get him to stop. I do not advise this for other dogs, mine is a rescue toy poodle that was already scared of my hens outside (not inside), but his barking made my rooster fly onto the roof.

 

[DaveTaunton]

I think I'll just let them out for Few hours a day, see how they go until I get some more chicken wire, if I can make the barrier a meter higher it will take a cat on a pogo stick to get over it. Thanks!

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Hahahaha stupid cat! It don't matter how tall your fence is, a cat will hook the fence post and climb it unless you nail cat guards on the posts.

 

[DaveTaunton]

Oh flip. Well I'll have to see how they get along, I've shortened their run so if anything does happen they'll be able to run closer quicker