Cat took three of our chicks-only leaving one.

[The Coop Crew]

You guys…I am so sad and so mad at myself. We lost two chicks earlier this week to our cat (my daughter left the garage door open).We had two left. Well this morning I came out to clean the brooder box and opened the garage door to let some fresh air in. THE CAT WAS INSIDE. Well one of my children needed something and I went inside and forgot to close the garage door and didn’t mention it to the others who live with me so the cat got out and took another one of our chicks. We are left with one. My question is…can one chick survive on its own? My bigger girls are much too big for me to put the chick with them. I just feel so sad…I know it’s OUR fault and do not blame the cat. It’s just still so sad.

 

[Rose the Legbar]

I would get two other chick friends around the same age as it. Chickens are social animals and need flockmates.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I would get two other chick friends around the same age as it. Chickens are social animals and need flockmates.

Yeah I know…I have a mirror in there for right now.

 

[Penpal]

Put the chicks in a cage. A dog crate is fine with cardboard or something around the outside perimeter so they can't squeeze through the bars.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Put the chicks in a cage. A dog crate is fine with cardboard or something around the outside perimeter so they can't squeeze through the bars.

Good idea! Thank you!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Found a little chick friend for it that I will be picking up tonight!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Found a little chick friend for it that I will be picking up tonight!

Oh good! They definitely don't do well solo. My cat will lay on top of my chick brooder and if he could get to them, it'd be very bad. So definitely improve your brooder instead of hoping doors don't get left open. Motivated cats are just so quick to slide through a door. Hardware cloth cover over the brooder will keep kitty out.

 

[Logar]

Sorry to hear about your chicks

I would definitely work on improving your brooder though. The dog crate suggestion is a good idea.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Oh good! They definitely don't do well solo. My cat will lay on top of my chick brooder and if he could get to them, it'd be very bad. So definitely improve your brooder instead of hoping doors don't get left open. Motivated cats are just so quick to slide through a door. Hardware cloth cover over the brooder will keep kitty out.

We’ve had another set of chicks in the brooder and this didn’t happen. We do have some stuff we’re going to put over the top though!
Thank you

 

[The Coop Crew]

Sorry to hear about your chicks

I would definitely work on improving your brooder though. The dog crate suggestion is a good idea.

Thank you.
We’ve had another set of chicks in the same brooder and it wasn’t an issue but we are definitely going to up the security!
However the same cat just pounced at one of our bigger girls (which she’s never bothered before) and we don’t have a rooster so she may be going to a new home. It’s such a tough situation.