Chickens and cats

[MaxSean]

I have often considered getting a few chickens, though it worry about my cats. At Codman farm, some roamed together though I was told it worked out because the cats were kittens when chicks were small and the moms pecked at the cats if they bothered the chicks. Have 4 cats here. 2 Maine Coonish that just started to go outside and have very little confidence outside. Two former strays. One goes out every day no matter what because she prefers not to use litterbox in house. She mostly catches mice, moles and some stalls birds. Other cat is big male that was stray for at least 2 years. He no longer hunts Daily, but I know he has killed something as big as a rabbit lately, due to the amount of blood for the animal on him.

Also how ling does it take to care for 4 birds.



Thanks, Dorothy

 

[hxgumdrop]

I have two cats and had them way before i got my chooks. one doesnt go near them the other likes to sit in the garden with them but as soon as the chickens see her they chase her out. cats are unlikely to try to catch a fully grown chicken they may think about it if you have chicks but mine have never tried to get the big hens, if anything they are scared of the chickens!

 

[Clover8Flora]

Do you have space for a pen around your coop? I have two cats and that's what we have. More for my peace of mind, the chickens come out in the rest of the garden when I'm home but stay in the pen if I'm out.

My cats have never taken much notice of my chickens but better safe then sorry for me I think, I only have little bantams too so less scary to cats then the bigger breeds x

 

[hxgumdrop]

Yes i have a pen but they are only init when it rains (ok so thats alot!) but they are in the garden as much as possible(cheaper onfood!) if im in or out as my garden is secure so they cat get into the neighbors gardens, that took a while to sort but now they stay in the garden.
I have sussex and silkie bantams so bit of beef to the sussex but nothing to my silkies and my silkies attack my cat just as much as the sussex do lol The chickens tend to gang up and just chase my cat out or if she lies down in the dirt they just keep going up to her until she gets too scared and leaves. chickens are bullies lol you dont have anything to worry about other neighborhood cats come into the garden as well and they dont last long

 

[sharihern]

I have cats also. Our chicks are about 6-7 wks now. Our cats haven't been around them much, but one of them does like to come watch them and see what all the chirping is.... I only let her for a minute or so as long as i am right there with them. But I am worried that once they are outside all the time my cats will get a little too interested. I'm planning on keeping them protected with a pen of course though!

 

[hxgumdrop]

you really shouldnt worry, once they are fully grown the cats wont bother with them. We have lots of cats around and most stay away, the ones that are brave enough to get closer get chased away and pecked by the girls! Here is a picture of my cat Jinny trying to have a dust bath but is now frozen to the spot as the girls spotted her and started to surround her!

 

[enola]

You probably won't have to worry about your cats bothering your chickens. They just don't sound very threatening to me.

But, please don't fool yourself about cats and chickens. An adult (usually ferel) cat is perfectly capable of catching and killing an adult chicken for a meal. I caught one red-handed recently. They will also eat eggs if they get the opportunity.

I lost 3 hens over an eight day period.

After SEEING the cat trying to remove a hen from the coop I set a trap and the cat will not be killing any more chickens.

I know the cat killed her because I had fed the chickens earlier and she was very much alve then.