Cats

[southerndesert]

Generally the cats have not been a huge problem and never have killed a chicken, but we have a batch of 17 pullets and a 13 week old cockerel watching over them and this is the pen the cats are interested in naturally. Neighbor is like many and expects others to keep dogs on a leash and farm animals penned, but cats should run free

Seems a very common opinion with cat owners for some odd reason. John the cat's owner just says "well if the dog or rooster kill one it was meant to be and he is well aware our dog (blue healer) will do it as she got a stray last year. Thing is I do not want our dog killing his darn cats for being in our yard or his cats worrying our young birds or worse.

I may have to put my foot down if we keep having issues since the cat man rents a home from me, problem is he is a good renter and the county here will not enforce the leash law for cats, but they will for any other animal??? Is perfectly legal to dispatch them though and I have no issues with killing predators, but that is not the desired option.

Our birds are securely locked up at night, but out in the large pen/run during the day as well as some time free ranging. Guess the OP is looking to find me some more options to help protect her birds.

Oh I should add Arizona Raider is my daughter

 

[jimmythechicken]

i use live traps around us we had a ferile cat kill 9 pullets one night.with the live traps if i catch the wild ferile cats they get a dirt nap.if i catch the neihbors cats easy to tell the differance if will roll the trap over 20-30 time fast open it up an we never see them again.

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
Think I will try the "trap and roll" method, thanks!

 

[chickenbythesea]

my friends kittens stalk and try and hunt the chickens but the chickens put the boots to them so bad it's funny!! She has lots of neighbor cats that come into their yard from time to time and they've never got a chicken... mind you her chickens aren't scared of cats... it's the other way around

 

[sissystonned]

We have a few that come around here. Some are sweet as pie others not so much. One of my cats chases all of them out of the yard. My big Tom tries to make friends.