can you have a cat and have chickens 2??

[gryeyes]

When my first batch o' chickens were fairly small and outdoors at 12 weeks, two of my cats watched them very closely through the run fence all the time. Closer and closer they sat to the fencing.

Chickens are curious. They peck at the things about which they are curious.

Yes, both cats got an inquisitive peck right smack on the nose through the fence material, and neither one of them has ever bothered the chickens at all. The chickens now range freely in my yard and the cats don't even give them a second look.

BOTH cats do go into the open run and stalk the mice which have discovered feed on the ground.

My totally outside cat isn't interested in the chickens at all - perhaps she too got pecked, but I didn't witness it. I DID see the other two getting their noses pecked, though! You shoulda seen them somersault backwards away from the fence!

Sometimes I sit on the retaining wall around my goldfish pond to hand feed the chickens their treats, and the biggest and fluffiest of my cats sits right next to me, wanting attention I am lavishing on the chickens.

 

[cpegram]

My DH and I found a kitten 4-6 weeks old in the middle of the road on our way home from dinner...we picked her up and took her home....we put her in the barn with the 12 week old chickens....the chickens are now 21 weeks old and the kitten thinks its a chicken it seems....LOL they get along fine...the hens keep her in line everything worked well!!

 

[justbugged]

I have 5 former feral cats, and I have never had any problems between the cats and chickens. My Yorkies are a completely different type of threat. They love the chickens a little to much and lick lick them half to death. I try very hard to not let the chickens and dogs co-mingle without strict supervision.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Just an observation: Must be when the Brits exported cats they got rid of all the big bad ones--apparently sent them to Ireland and Australia. There is a post on the predator thread about feral cats down under killing chickens. Haven't heard yet from NZ, SE Asia or South Africa so it may not be a real pattern.

 

[shchinchillas]

We have 2 barn cats, and there are 2 strays hanging around as well that were dumped. His aunt also has 2 indoor/outdoor cats and chickens.

None of the 6 cats have bothered the chickens. At times one of our barn cats will stalk a chicken, but all the chicken needs to do is turn around and chase the cat--and she's gone.


In fact, just yesterday I was up with the goats and 6 of my hens came begging for treats, one of the cats with them. We walked down to the barn, the 6 hens following me and the cat in the middle of the chickens...

 

[drdoolittle]

My cat who lives out in the barn with the goats and chickens is actually afraid of the chickens. They will chase him away from his bed and use it to lay eggs in! He just hisses at them if they get too close, but he would never try to stalk, catch or eat them.

 

[catwalk]

 

[MaureenL128]

We have 2 cats. They get along great with the chickens. The girls have come to own the yard so the cats don't even bother with them.

 

[Judy]

Until we gave away the kittens recently, we had 6 cats here, and they hang around the chickens, never bothering them. I think they get curious, the chicken pecks them, and that's the end of that. I would guess that feral cats might bother chickens -- but we have a group of feral cats in the neighborhood, too. Guess they find enough mice or other, easier prey.

 

[forrestacres]

5 cats and 8 chickens and not a problem whatsoever!

catwalk - i love your photo. Now that's a good mama hen!