Chickens and cats

[[E]thernet]

I am planning on having 3 chickens, caged, in my backyard. I have a cat at home that also likes going out in the backyard. Will the 2 animals have any problems with each other?

 

[Trish1974]

Hard to say. I've read a lot of posts on here about cats chasing and/or killing chickens, but when I got my flock it was the cats that were running for their lives! That sweet, demure, innocent looking buff orp in my avatar had a true disdain for cats, as does my golden comet.

 

[jthornton]

My neighbor has a cat that roams with some of her chickens and even runs heard on young ones that try and stray away. Almost funny to watch. She also has about 10 or so cats in her yard with 30 or more chickens.

JT

 

[PetesChicks]

Full grown chickens would probably have nothing to fear from a normal house cat. They are too big for the cat to consider them prey, and would probably put the cat in it’s place.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I have two cats and they are curious about the chickens but don't bother them. My male cat will stalk them until he gets about two feet away, then he stops. The chickens chase the cats all the time as well. The picture shows my male cat sitting near the chickens as they free range. This is a cat that easily catches birds and even squirrels, but doesn't bother the chickens.

 

[harmonymw]

I have two indoor/outdoor cats. One is a mushy calico who just stays on our property and wouldn’t hurt a fly. The other is a cold-blooded killer who we recently discovered maintains several backup families in the neighborhood. He kills birds, squirrels, mice of course, baby bunnies, chipmunks, anything really, and leaves for days at a time, presumably to eat at his other houses. Neither have ever bothered my chickens, chicks, ducklings, or ducks.

 

[donna641]

They should be fine as long as you don't introduce them until the chickens are full grown. One afternoon last summer, I heard my hens making a lot of noise outside. When I ran out to see what was wrong, I found a stray cat surrounded by my hens. It ran off when I called the hens away. It never came back.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

Our old cat, that is very gentle and calm and once lost a fight to a squirrel, bit one of our new chicks in the head with zero hesitation when we first got chickens. The chick died the very next day. Now that they are older/bigger, I'm not as worried about them.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I am planning on having 3 chickens, caged, in my backyard. I have a cat at home that also likes going out in the backyard. Will the 2 animals have any problems with each other?

This little Buff lady will beat the brakes off of a cat!

 

[GrannyHeeney]

This little Buff lady will beat the brakes off of a cat!View attachment 1438729

She looks very fierce!