Chickens vs. Barn Cats - Looking for Suggestions

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I'd think the birds might need something the cat food contains... maybe feed the birds some cat food on a regular basis? Is the cat food based on fish? God forbid - chicken? Beef?

The cat food has chicken in it, they love it. I've fed them chicken before as treats, it's actually quite good for them.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

They make covered cat litter boxes with swinging flap doors. You could get a clean/unused one and put a bowl of food in. I don't know whether the chickens will go through a swinging pet door or not, but they wouldn't smell the food, and it's usually rather dark inside so maybe they wouldn't see/notice/care.

This is a really good idea! I think I might try it before I spend the time/money on building something.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I was going to suggest this too, but for the price it might be worth just lying in wait with a super soaker and squirting the birds when they get too close to the food.

I have to admit I've tried that already! They don't care too much and still come back the next day. lol

 

[redinator]

They make covered cat litter boxes with swinging flap doors. You could get a clean/unused one and put a bowl of food in. I don't know whether the chickens will go through a swinging pet door or not, but they wouldn't smell the food, and it's usually rather dark inside so maybe they wouldn't see/notice/care.

I've seen post where people talked about chickens following the dogs/cats in the house . . . so I'm not sure how long that would work.

 

[redinator]

I have to admit I've tried that already! They don't care too much and still come back the next day. lol

Mine play in the rain . . . it could just be a relief from the humidity, but I'd think they'd just be slightly offended, lol.

 

[GypseRse55]

Feed the cats at night. They are rather nocturnal, and the birds should be cooped up.

And then you deal with raccoons and possums coming in and eating their food.

 

[Etymom]

My cats, like my dogs, get fed once a day. There's no need to leave food out free choice when they should be hunting mice. That said, the first thing I do when I go out to do chores is put the cats with their food in a dog crate and lock them in. When I am done with chores, about an hour or so later, they are done eating too. I let them out and put the rest of the food away.

This method stemmed from 2 problems: 1. The geese were eating the cat food. And 2. The cats were crawling all over me while I was milking. Incredible irritating and cumbersome. So, I lock them up with their food. It keeps them out of my hair, they get fed, and no one else gets the cat food -- not chickens, not raccoons, or any other animal looking for easy food.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

My cats, like my dogs, get fed once a day. There's no need to leave food out free choice when they should be hunting mice. That said, the first thing I do when I go out to do chores is put the cats with their food in a dog crate and lock them in. When I am done with chores, about an hour or so later, they are done eating too. I let them out and put the rest of the food away.

This method stemmed from 2 problems: 1. The geese were eating the cat food. And 2. The cats were crawling all over me while I was milking. Incredible irritating and cumbersome. So, I lock them up with their food. It keeps them out of my hair, they get fed, and no one else gets the cat food -- not chickens, not raccoons, or any other animal looking for easy food.

This method would definitely work if I didn't have a stray cat problem. I suspect people either drop them off or they just show up at my farm somehow, but the majority are skittish and won't let me pet them. Meaning that if I locked them in a crate, they'd be more worried about escaping than eating. I could train them to be comfortable in the crate, but with how often we have more show up, I'd be constantly training new ones. And also the ones that are friendly get right under my feet when I only feed them once a day, but mostly mind their own business if I keep food out constantly.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

And then you deal with raccoons and possums coming in and eating their food.

I have had a few different skunks that come to eat the food right next to the cats. I haven't gotten sprayed... yet. One even had babies. Lots of opossums as well, I don't mind them as they are mostly harmless and eat ticks, but we have to relocate them because of the horses.

 

[FrostRanger]

This method would definitely work if I didn't have a stray cat problem. I suspect people either drop them off or they just show up at my farm somehow, but the majority are skittish and won't let me pet them. Meaning that if I locked them in a crate, they'd be more worried about escaping than eating. I could train them to be comfortable in the crate, but with how often we have more show up, I'd be constantly training new ones. And also the ones that are friendly get right under my feet when I only feed them once a day, but mostly mind their own business if I keep food out constantly.

My concern with feeding them in crates is cats can be quite territorial, especially over food. If they get in a fight while in the crate they won't be able to run away from each other and cat fights can be nasty