Brother's cat killed 5 birds; 5 others hurt

[Mattemma]

I would build an outdoor cat enclosure for the cat.An enclosure that is attached to the house.Plenty of ideas online. Here is one:
http://www.just4cats.com/

If that wasn't an option the cat would be strictly indoors or it would diappear.Outdoor animals disappear all the time.That is the risk you run with letting them roam. That many loses and that cat would be gone. I have 3 cats and thankfully no issues with the hens.One cat IS a rabid hunter,but her focus is rodents.

Sorry for your loss and the family issue,but family or not I would not allow the poultry to be killed anymore.I would secure the cat for good or atleast until I improved the protection of the animals it was attacking. I would leave it on the relative(brother) to contain the cat.Another death would mean bye-bye kitty.I would just get rid of the cat instead of arguing and threatening with my loved one.

I would take the dog to the pound or shoot it.

Best wishes!

 

[oesdog]

Sorry to hear of your loss. Cats- well it is in their nature.
Our cat insists on "baby sitting" our chicks and will sprockle out on the top of their run!
I have had to chase him away a few times but it is hard to watch him all the time!
We are lucky in that so far we have not lost any of our chicks to him. Our youngest girls
are about 18/19 weeks now so are getting to big for him to bother with.

I think the CAT run is a good idea!!!!! Cats are lovely creatures in their own right
- you really can't blame the cat for doing what comes naturally.
Sad about the chicks though. -

I think you need to have a really good heart to heart with your little brother!!!
Get him to help you make a more secure run for the birds. If he helps you he may be more inclined to get the message.

As for the Dog well no need to shoot it !!!! - If you let the dog out rig up a long washing line wire in the yard and loop a long leash over it. that way the dog can happily run the length of the line and were it is able to go can be restricted!!! -

Works here all the time!!!!

Oesdog -

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
There are bigger issues here than a cat. You need to discuss what you posted here with your parents.

 

[mdbokc]

"...and took an ice pick to the chicken wire." What the heck is this about? I can't imagine this combination for any reason.

 

[FowlLanguage]

It all makes sense now- it wasn't a cat or a dog. It was a wolverine. I saw it face to face. Sadly, my shotgun malfunctioned.

We have a trap out for it right now. Tomorrow morning it should be dead. Its pelt should go for $60-90 towards the $250+ that it will cost to replace my lost birds.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Sorry if I sound harsh but, what a jerk. You'd think by 16 he'd be smart enough to figure that out.

 

[cgmccary]

FowlLanguage: It all makes sense now- it wasn't a cat or a dog. It was a wolverine.

Makes more sense. I've seen many people blame cats for killing chickens, and it turn out not to be true. In fact, few cats will take a chicken. I used to live in the city where there were a lot of stray cats, LOTS. I had chicks outside in pens and in the run many times. Not once did I loose a bird to a cat. Many times, I observed the stray cats in the run hunting chipmunks and mice. For whatever the reason, it is very rare a domestic cat will take a full grown chicken. The cats seem to run from the roosters and hens which would chase them!

My cat sometimes will act interested in chicks, but she has never bothered them. I keep her strictly indoors because I don't want her devastating the wild bird population (she is especially fond of hummingbirds which I feed in the summer).​

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Sounds like WAY too many birds for a cat to kill at one time. I have 7 large outdoor cats and they RUN from my hens.

I cannot imagine a domestic cat trying to attack one of my Pekin ducks either...no chance for the cat. I would look further if you haven't already.

 

[HeritageHens]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Quote:
I was going to say the same thing - I think the "predators and pests" in this case is your brother. You wouldn't be in this situation if not for him. This sort of nonsense spills over into other aspects of their life and needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. I'd have a sit-down with your parents. They need to step up to the plate and become parents with all the responsibilities that go with that title. Good luck to you and your flock!

 

[FowlLanguage]

Quote:
I was going to say the same thing - I think the "predators and pests" in this case is your brother. You wouldn't be in this situation if not for him. This sort of nonsense spills over into other aspects of their life and needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. I'd have a sit-down with your parents. They need to step up to the plate and become parents with all the responsibilities that go with that title. Good luck to you and your flock!

My mom doesn't know the slightest thing about birds, and my dad, the only experienced chicken farmer I know, lives on the other side of town and is usually working 20-250 miles north, so neither of them are really much help. BTW, my brother is the kind of kid who you probably wouldn't know unless you were looking, but he is in special education.