CATS!!! Help please!

[Chicken0Boy]

Ok so I have 4 cats that are always outside and 2 that come and go. Now the problem....the chickens will be in the coop at 5 weeks old.....will they be able to kill them at that age? I am only worried about them when I free range them though, but I will be outside all the time during free ranging.Oh and there will be a rooster, they are all bantams too! If the cats will kill them how should I try to prevent them?

Thanks in advance!

 

[dragonlair]

I own 2 cats that live inside 24/7. However, I am surrounded by neighbors who have large cats that like to hang outside. In my yard. One particular cat got one of my full grown Golden Comet hens. A cat could do a number on young bantams if they can kill a full grown layer. I didn't have a roo at the time, because of my neighbors. However, since that time I have gotten a large Barred rock cross roo who is very protective of his girls. I figure if the neighbors can't keep their cats off my property, then I need to get a roo to help out my girls.

 

[redhen]

Yes, they can kill the chickens.
And if a cat even bites a bird its usually deadly... Something in the cats saliva affects birds very fast and deadly.

 

[nzpouter]

a cat can kill a full grown bantam.... until you let them free range, you'll never know...

over here those that hunts mice/ rats live, those hunting chcikens and other pets... shot.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

I might bve able to catch them an d put them up somewere while my chickens freee range?