Cats?

[Cyneswith]

1. At what age can my chicks free range with cats in the area?

2. Would a cat be able to climb a 7 foot fence? 2x4 welded wire over 4x4 lumber.

And probably a better question for elsewhere - can a CHICKEN get over a 7 foot fence? (An acquaintance said his chickens can get over his 5 foot fence - I don't know if they do this by climbing bushes or something, though.)

 

[chickencheeper]

Chickens cannot free range with cats because cats+birds(even chickens)= Injuries on both sides.(pecking, clawing, diseases,etc) and to be safe you should roof in an chicken pens because of hawks and other climbing+jumping predators and cats can get through tiny holes. Personally my chickens can get over a 6-7 foot high fence with relative ease

 

[sawilliams]

If they are wild or stray cats you need to be careful, if they are house cats i would at least wait till the chickens are about 6 months or older.

Honestly I have 4 cats (plus dogs and chickens). 2 of the cats are older and though they did check out the coop and run a few times one good peck and the cats stay back, the chickens will try to keep thier distance too though. The 2 younger cats are new and just started going outside. They sit and stare, but haven't gone near the run or coop of chicken when they free range. I do worry about chicks even with a mama hen just becuase they are so small and my cats like to catch birds.

 

[Embalmergirl]

My cats have always left my chickens alone. However, my girls were 3 months old when I got them from the feed store & my 2 cats just seem to know better than to deal with birds that were that much bigger than a sparrow. My 18 pound cat enjoys sunning himself in the yard with the girls free ranging around him.

 

[Cyneswith]

One house cat that goes out, no indications of others. He's determined (he broke his cat flap twice, once with steel reinforcements) but decidedly not graceful. His belly swings when he walks, and he misses jumps more than he nails them due to the extra weight. I'm somewhat surprised he hasn't broken into the porch, though - there's only a fabric screen and a piece of cardboard between him and the chicks.

There are some feral/stray/loose dogs from time to time that I'm more concerned about in the long run.

If we get more cats, they'll be exposed when they are kittens (with trimmed claws) so they remember those things peck.

 

[MillersFarm]

One house cat that goes out, no indications of others. He's determined (he broke his cat flap twice, once with steel reinforcements) but decidedly not graceful. His belly swings when he walks, and he misses jumps more than he nails them due to the extra weight. I'm somewhat surprised he hasn't broken into the porch, though - there's only a fabric screen and a piece of cardboard between him and the chicks.

There are some feral/stray/loose dogs from time to time that I'm more concerned about in the long run.

If we get more cats, they'll be exposed when they are kittens (with trimmed claws) so they remember those things peck.

Even kittens can be reckless. I had to get rid of my favorite kittens because i caught her chasing and hunting or just even taunting my chicks too many times... So like what chickecheeper said cats and chickens don't mix so i wouldn't think about getting another cat just yet.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

My cats are no issue with the birds whatsoever- they walk past one another and sit next to one another. And my dogs keep everyone else's cats well away during the day. They do not allow them in the yard. At night the doors get shut.

As for fences, cats can definitely get over that. Mine shoot up and over my 6 footer. And my chickens can get over the 6 foot too if they get startled.

 

[chickens really]

I have zero issues with my Cat or the one from next door...My Hens and Chicks free range...My worry is Fox...