Cats and Chickens

[Miltonchix]

Neighbors cat killed 23!! of my White Rock chicks. Had put them in the "playpen" and went to the store. (30 mile trip). Left guard dog AND guard goose to watch over them.
When we got home all but 2 of our chicks were dead. They had been killed for sport. One had a leg missing, other than that they were just butchered.
I left the cat and all my dead chicks on neighbors porch in a bag. Cat had passed from lead poisoning.

 

[seminolewind]

I think alot depends on how big the chicken is. I had a huge rooster that would attack the cats.

 

[Henrietta23]

I agree that you should watch them for a while. We had a neighbor's cat get under the fence once and it sat on the woodpile watching. I watched him, ready to go after him if I needed to. He slowly stalked down the logs and started approaching the girls when one of my old ladies flew at him screeching like a banshee. Haven't seen that cat since! And we found the spot where he went under the fence and fixed it.

On the other hand, the only problem I've had with all the dogs I've had with my chickens is the pug we have now. He chases them as if they were cats. If they are all in a group he loves to go charging into the middle and watch them scatter. We call it Bowling for Chickens. He wouldn't know what to do with one if he ever caught it though. Not the brightest of beast is our Stan.

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

My cat lives in the "chicken coop" (actually a shop). She is deathly afraid of the chickens. A couple of Chinese Geese will do that

Jim

 

[Miltonchix]

Had another feral cat die of lead poisoning today.
It was in the process of DIGGING under the wire to get in the coop. I've never seen a cat dig before. (other than to bury a deposit)
The cats where I live have almost decimated the native rabbit population, song birds, and basically everything else that moves. Simply because some pet owners won't control their pets. In the sqare mile around my place, it is estimated there are between 300 and 400 feral cats.

And they are probably all brothers/sister, aunts/uncles or cousins. Only takes one breeding pair to wreak havoc.un

 

[GoodEgg]

Still keeping an eye on our growing kitten. He's several months old now and starting to feel the need to test himself and see what he can do. (He discovered he can get on the roof yesterday and is VERY pleased with himself!). He's always loved wrestling with the ducks and can't stop himself from chasing and sometimes tackling the banty pullets. We taught him early on NEVER to use claws when playing with us, and he doesn't use them with the poultry, but ...

He's a cat, and those instincts may kick in some day. He's a really good cat, and my dd loves him. I don't intend to get rid of him, but there's no way to restrain him from the now free-ranging chickens.

A few of my bigger girls are starting to stand up to him more often and "protect" their smaller "sisters." I'm hoping they will start to put him in his place and settle it for good before he gets out of hand. Or that the cockerels will realize their responsibility and do it. Or hoping he never will lose control of himself. (I'm getting ready to have him neutered since he's about old enough, and hoping that may help too.)

On the other hand, we have an older female who has been spayed and declawed and is very docile, and she hangs out with the chickens. I think she's lonely sometimes and enjoys their company. They are much more likely to peck her than the young male cat though. I don't worry about her attacking the chickens at all. She cries pitifully if they surround her and look aggressive.

If I had biddies, I'd probably worry though.

And I don't trust any other cats at ALL. But my duck set up an alarm the one time one got in the yard. I do wish I had a dog I could trust that would watch out for them. I used to have a pair of German Shepherds that would be perfect ... we called one "The Enforcer" because she knew ALL the rules and didn't hesitate to make sure all animals in the house followed them!

trish

 

[bantymum]

I have a burmese male "Charlie" who is my best mate, he follows me everywhere, he knows my thoughts, and he knows my routines.
He chases my bunnies around the trees sometimes but they love to play with him and they just watch him and have a giggle!!!they even do the binky dance for him!
He is the best little mate, he protects the yard against foxes and other cats.
He doesnt even touch the silky chicks or ducklings, he just knows that they are not on the menu.
Charlie stays outside at night hunting mice and guarding the yard, and the cat door is always open for him to jump into my bed and under the doona which is OUR time!!

Some cats are great with chickens, i guess it depends on how close you are to them and how synched you both are, if that makes sense.

If I had feral cats here and I was allowed to shoot i would have no hesitation to do so!

 

[pattycake]

My cats are terrible -- they love chasing my chickens. It's really a pain -- I can't let the cats out when the chickens are freeranging. I don't think they'd actually catch them -- my chickens are huge, and I have a rooster -- but the chickens might run into the road or have a heart attack.

The neighbor's cat totally ignores the chickens, though.

 

[Rebeccahorse]

It all depends on the cat and whether you can teach the cat that they are not dinner.
My one cat tried right away to get my hens, but after a few times of me yelling at her she gave up.
My other cat just loves to play with the chickens.She sits on their cage and reaches through and bats at them.

 

[GoodEgg]

Oh, Miltonchix, I somehow missed your other post. So sorry to hear about the cat and your chicks.

You've had a really bad time of it this year ... I'm sorry about that. I don't know what else to say. I too would have thought they'd be safe with a dog outside the pen.

I hope that wasn't your entire flock this time?

Again, I'm just sorry to hear of it.

I don't know what else to say. That's awful.

trish