cats around the chickenhaus

[polychickens]

Would there be any problem with encouraging the cats to live in the shed that the coop attaches to? I am wanting to keep the mice/rats away, but I want to make sure this doesn't threaten the chickens in some way. They are big enough that the cats are not predators, but what about the spread of disease, etc?

Thanks!
Polychickens

 

[Bailey]

I've had no problem with cat / chicken cross infections- none I could tell anyway. The cats do seem to develop a "flinch response"

When we introduce new chicks, the cats can see them but not touch them- we keep them "under glass" for about the first 4 weeks-


After that, rhey get along fine. They seem to play- the cats stalk them, the chickens run then, go right back when the cat stops chasing. We keep an eye on them until the chicks are too big for a cat to kill.
We have a bengal who comes and meows (as much as they "meow") if the chicks are making a lot of noise in the brooder. Bengals don't seem to like cold weather- She sleeps on top of the brooder. So, she may be telling us SHE's cold or maybe ...

The worst drawback to cat / chicken friendships is finding the chickens have invited themselves to lunch, following their 4-footed buddies through the pet door into the kitchen

 

[Red Mangrove]

My cats and chickens get along perfectly