chickens and cats?

[my three chickens]

Here's an update on my cats and chickens meeting:

Cats are huge, chickens nearly as big. Cats initially thought to attack, but quickly were more scared than anything. Five minutes and the cats were lying on the ground just watching, and the chickens were scratching around like nothing had happened.

Cats are hunters and pretty hefty (12 pounds).
Chickens were 13-14 weeks old, two BO, two Australorps, two runty Delawares. I think a key was that there were enough chickens that they acted as sort of a posse. The cats couldn't stand up to them.

 

[cluckychick]

I have a feral cat in my barn w/3 kittens. Today she moved the kittens to an old abandoned car at the back of our property but left one behind so my DS and I went and got the other 2. It has been raining alot here and the old car has no windows and I don't want the kittens sick or anything. Anyways, after bringing them back we set back away and watched for her to come. She walked up next to the run, through some weeds thinking we couldn't see her, my chickens ran right up to her and followed her along the fence line. She didn't pay any attention to them but now when ppl post that something got their chickens right through the fence I can see how. I wish I'd had my camera......

 

[mom wewantchicks!]

my chicks and cats are still getting along great! the cat i origanlly thought would eat the chicks has decided she is either the mom or good buddy!! the bigger girls have moved to the outdoor pen 24/7,everytime i go out in the morning to let them out,the cat follows. she has to drink out of thier water and check out the food. i think she is afraid the chickens may be getting something she is not lol. when i go out this evening im going to try to take some pictures!! the other 2 cats are not interested at all in the chickens.

 

[Cheryl]

I figured my Maine coon cat would devour the chickens...he just ignores them!!! I recently added my bantam cochins to the yard, they are small, he ignores them, and just this past week I put out a new silkie, about the same size as the cochins, I figured surely she would be breakfast, lunch or dinner!!! Nope he is ignoring them all, just brings me far too many robins in their place...and I feel terrible about the robins....

 

[Moonwalker]

The farm cats at the stables will catch and eat wild birds, but leave even the smallest chicks alone.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

I'm certain my cat would take down a chick, and even a large hen or rooster. Cats are FEARLESS, I love my cat, but I wouldn't trust him with chickens/chicks. Then again.. my indoor/housecat, the same cat, is also out of Feral mother, and Bengal father..so maybe it's just his nature to be insane?

 

[Wildsky]

My indoor cats were never really interested in the chicks unless they flew across the room.

Since the chickens are outside, and the cats inside, they don't meet often.... the cats have seen chickens on our deck - both parties are interested in each other through the glass, but thats as far as it ever gets.

Our cats are never really very amused by chicks in the house - but they do let us keep them.

 

[tasymo]

It TOTALLY depends on your cat. Cat can be trained to leave chickens and even smaller birds alone. Our cat, Pansy, grew up with cockatiels as brothers. She likes to sleep on top of their cage and lets them preen her fur. When we brought the chicks home, she checked them out, but seemed to consider them kind of boring. The chicks, however, found Pansy fascinating, especially the barred rocks. I think they thought she was a hen, since she has long thick fur and is gray and white. Now that my Girls are as big as the cat, Pansy is rather shy of them. She likes to watch them, but when they all come running at her (and they do, as soon as they spot her...) she will run for the house. If they approach her slowly and one at a time, she will hang out with them for awhile.

I would not trust strange cats around my chickens though.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

my 15 year old, 12 lb house cat seems to be fine with the little chicks. she seems to be checking them out trying to decide if friend, foe or should be ...food?..nah must be friend.

i don't think i could trust any outside cats. i can't really trust my dog with them. though he's a licker than an eater of chickens. if only they'd realize that all he wants to do is groom them.

 

[Imp]

Like a lot of others here my cats (a mix of ferals, strays and pets) are afraid of the chickens. Funny because the cats are not afraid of the raccoons. They will go into the coop for a warm place to sleep in the winter, but other than that will leave the area if the chickens come close. But if a strange cat comes into the yard they put up a big ruccus. Seems they can tell them apart. When I had chicks in the house the indoor cats never messed with the chicks, but I wouldn't trust them.

Imp