Cats and my lack of foresight

[kesrchicky16]

So I ended up with 2 very adorable little fuzzies and a very protective mama. I wanted to introduce them to the flock thus weekend since they were born Monday and Tuesday. But now I'm paranoid. The flock doesn't really seem to care but our 10 farm cats seem too curious for the chicks well-being. I want to trust nature and believe that the mama will teach the cats manners but I've seen my cats eating doves and working together to hunt.

My chickens free range during the day and my cats live in the same yard. The cats have never messed with the adults and surrender their cat food when the chickens come to investigate.

Is there anyway to allow the new family to join the flock without making them dinner for the cats that are here to keep the hay and grain mouse free?

 

[mtngirl35]

I have a cat and he will "play stalk" my grown chickens but he won't actually attack them and they either ignore him or approach him to intimidate him. But baby chicks put him in a hunting mood. I can tell because his eyes dilate and his respiration speeds up when he sees them. I usually just keep Mama Hen and her chicks in the nursery coop until they are about 6-7 weeks old and have feathers and some size to them. Then they are turned loose to free range and join in the kitty games with the rest of the flock.

 

[chickens really]

I have a farm Cat....I also have raised many Chicks under my Broody Hens and my Cat will not mess with my Birds..Momma Hens are too mean....

 

[sourland]

10 farm cats and newly hatched chicks ? No hen can protect against multiple cats stalking chicks at the same time. 'Divide and conquer' works for predators. I have seen a pair of foxes working a doe with twin fawns. One chases one fawn and one chases the other separating them. The doe is unable to protect both and eventually goes off with one leaving the fox to feast.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

10 farm cats and newly hatched chicks ? No hen can protect against multiple cats stalking chicks at the same time. 'Divide and conquer' works for predators. I have seen a pair of foxes working a doe with twin fawns. One chases one fawn and one chases the other separating them. The doe is unable to protect both and eventually goes off with one leaving the fox to feast.

X2

 

[Folly's place]

x3! Mama can only do so much! Wait until those chicks are a lot larger! Mary

 

[kesrchicky16]

That's what I have decided. We've fortified the bottom of the small run they are in and I spread scratch for them to forage and fill their water and feed. I'll watch and pull her out when she starts pushing them away. When I feel them big enough to defend themselves I will let them join the flock.

At least I know what challenges I will have next spring. I want to get some silkies and hatch a clutch of eggs every 2 weeks or so. Will mommies get along or should I plan on housing each clutch separately? They will have separate dog crates to nest in but can they share a run?

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I know absotively nothing about silkies. You might check out the silkie breed thread and pick their brains? If I was raising standard chicks with broodies, I'd give each her own small protected enclosure for a week or three, then a supervised day outing with the flock and back to protected separate area at night for another month or so. Until it looked like broody was comfortable, chicks were good, everyone happy. Play it by ear and trust your instincts is how I roll.