cat proofing a chicken coop

[regdebham]

Are there cat proof chicken coops? We are first timers, just getting ready to buy a farm in Southern IL. We have to 1.5 year old cats, One is totally indoor and scared of her own shadow but the males loves to go outside and has killed birds and mice. In the house we have two parakeets, he has been around them since he was a kitten and he never bothers them but outside is a different story.

 

[Uzuri]

If it's coon-proof it ought to be more than cat proof. Just watch for little spaces that they can squeeze through. I had a cat (who was ill at the time) escape from a rabbit cage and we never could quite figure out how he managed it. Adding more crimps to the cage edges stopped him getting out, but we had to put them every 3".

 

[bigstack]

My cats are like mice and rats. If they can get their head through, they can get their body through. I put a hot wire(old fence charger from Horse pen) all around my pen. I put 1 strand 2 inches from ground, 1 6 inches up, and 2 on top. top strands are 2 inches from fence edge and 6 inches. I've not had any problems with anything getting in. My sister lives 60ft away and has 12 cats. all live outside and are prolific hunters. The lowest strand must be weed eated to keep from losing power. I have only had to do this about every 3 weeks. most of the small grass is burned off when it touches the wire. Thia has worked for me.

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[CountryMom]

We have several barn cats that are fantastic hunters. Now I have always kept baby chicks out of their sight, but as for the big birds, they have had more fun chasing my cats than the other way around. I don't have any that will venture into the coop even with the door open during the day and it unattended. I do have some cats follow me to the coop when it is time to collect eggs though. See, I spoiled a couple of those barn cats with cracking a fesh egg in their feed pan and now they come beggin.

When we first started chickens my lab mix was a bit interested. She snatched up one and I catch her. Luckily the hen was not injured. Have to say my dog learned fast and I have not had any issues with her since. I still watch, but she acts like she does with the barn kitties now and knows they are hers to watch over. Now my little dachshund thinks the chickens are out to get her and runs like a chicken herself.

Like other said, just make sure that all the holes .... top and bottom of the coop are covered. I had the worst time with coons in the rafters our first year with chickens.

 

[sherrydeanne]

Build it for real predators, your cats won't be a problem. I have two outdoor cats that bring me voles, moles, birds, etc on a daily basis. The chickens are just as big as the cats though, I haven't had any problems and I freeranged last summer. I did have one of my cats go after an 8 week Welsummer cockeral, but once she got within about a foot of him she stopped and ran. For brooders, I put a window screen on top of my tank and the cats sat on top and watched, but didn't bother them.

 

[joedie]

Here's a pic of my cat proof coop and run. They are always on the top but can't get in. The top is covered with chicken wire and the perimeter has 12" of hardware cloth dug into the base with hardware cloth 3 ft high around the bottom. These are my barn cats and are great mousers and catch lots of birds. A few days after this photo was taken, I decided to let the girls free range and see what the cats would do. They pretty much ignore the pullets even going so far as to lay down amongst the flock and roll around. If the girls get to close to them they run off. I'd be concerned about chicks but not a fully grown chicken.