If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would have never believed it. Last evening I was sitting in the yard, enjoying my flock when I see my lazy, slow cat chasing a wild bird across the driveway. I couldn't tell if the bird was a fledgling and couldn't fly or an injured adult, but it was running fast from the cat.
Now up to this point, cat and chickens have led a peaceful co-existence.
Suddenly, several of the hens nearest the chase raise a ruckus and start running straight for the bird (who is about 8 feet in front of the cat). My beta rooster is right behind them. The bird veered off into some high weeds and the hens followed it in the weeds and stood over the bird protecting it; meanwhile, the rooster cuts in between the bird and cat and starts to chase the cat. She ran under my car and the rooster just went right under after her. Following a little ruckus, the cat goes flying out the other side and the roo appears triumphant, strutting, squawking, etc. Meanwhile the hens are hovering over the bird in the weeds. I go over to see if I could lend assistance and they were not happy. The roo comes over and gets between me and the girls. It was near dusk so I watched for a little while and the pullets stayed right with the bird until it got dark. Only then did they head to the coop. I think if in the future I hatch any chicks they will defintely have protective hens around them.
Now up to this point, cat and chickens have led a peaceful co-existence.
Suddenly, several of the hens nearest the chase raise a ruckus and start running straight for the bird (who is about 8 feet in front of the cat). My beta rooster is right behind them. The bird veered off into some high weeds and the hens followed it in the weeds and stood over the bird protecting it; meanwhile, the rooster cuts in between the bird and cat and starts to chase the cat. She ran under my car and the rooster just went right under after her. Following a little ruckus, the cat goes flying out the other side and the roo appears triumphant, strutting, squawking, etc. Meanwhile the hens are hovering over the bird in the weeds. I go over to see if I could lend assistance and they were not happy. The roo comes over and gets between me and the girls. It was near dusk so I watched for a little while and the pullets stayed right with the bird until it got dark. Only then did they head to the coop. I think if in the future I hatch any chicks they will defintely have protective hens around them.
