CHICKS with CAT and TODDLER how to live together?

[Feather Fluff]

Our new baby silkie chicks will be hatching and shipped to us soon. The chicks will be kept safely away out of cat/toddler sight for 2 days until they've become accustomed to the brooder and are eating and drinking happily after their long journey during shipment.

We have an avid hunter cat indoor/outdoor; decently trained

We have a lovely 20 month old human; moderately mannered

When and how can they peacefully coexist and how have you successfully done this?

 

[MarkJr]

Spray bottle?

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

LOL Be careful with the cat and them. If its a avid hunted then wait till the chicks are bigger and not so yummy looking LOL! When we got guinea pigs when I was little my parents would set them in our laps and we would sit on the couch with them. If you show your toddler how to be gentle he/she will probably love it. But I would be very carful with the cat. We have strays come by ours and the hens all gather around them out of curiousity. The cats usually end up running away. They have never gone after them as full grown hens.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

You will need to set things up so that both of your "children" can see the chicks but not touch. Large dog crate with hardware cloth to cover the too-large gaps between the wire, large clear plastic storage bin with hardware cloth insert screwed into the lid, etc. Something that latches tightly, keeps chicks in, and keeps paws/arms out.

I would NOT recommend letting your child grab or hold chicks. I'd have a strict "one finger touching" rule after you've practiced gently petting a lot. It's way too easy to break a chick's wing or leg or whatever...don't risk it. My 3 year old gets to "hold them in his lap" (they sit on him) while closely supervised. We often have to remind him not to try to grab them.

I also make sure the chicks are in a separate room for other animals when I am not there. So when we leave the house, chicks get locked in the bathroom, dogs in the living room, etc. Juuuust in case someone has been getting ideas about how to open or knock over crates.

 

[Brooks_]

As to the cat, mine (birds and feline) were supervised until the birds were about 12 weeks old. At that point the birds seemed large enough and the cat seemed to have accepted them as more pets.

 

[K0k0shka]

Make sure the cat and the toddler cannot get to the chicks. I did this last spring, with a hunter cat and two young children, and it worked out wonderfully with no incidents. This is the setup I had:

Chicken TV Brooder

I called it "Chicken TV" because both the kids and the cat loved standing in front of it watching, and because of the mesh front, it was easy to see inside and enjoy the chicks without having to look down at their backs like with opaque bin type of brooders. Note also how the brooder is high up off the floor. Makes it less convenient to casually mess with. The cat quickly figured out she can't get them out of there and lost interest. The kids loved being able to see without being picked up and held over the edge.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Make sure the cat and the toddler cannot get to the chicks. I did this last spring, with a hunter cat and two young children, and it worked out wonderfully with no incidents. This is the setup I had:

Chicken TV Brooder

I called it "Chicken TV" because both the kids and the cat loved standing in front of it watching, and because of the mesh front, it was easy to see inside and enjoy the chicks without having to look down at their backs like with opaque bin type of brooders. Note also how the brooder is high up off the floor. Makes it less convenient to casually mess with. The cat quickly figured out she can't get them out of there and lost interest. The kids loved being able to see without being picked up and held over the edge.

Very cool, though I'd go with a heavier netting (I have a heavy duty one that's about double thickness of standard bird netting, so would still work in this application) or hardware cloth. And if elevating it, I'd see about securing it to the base, so the kid can't accidentally pull it down on top of themselves.

With a toddler I wouldn't let them hold the chicks (way too many stories of chicks being dropped or crushed by small kids), but they certainly can look at them and gently pet them with an adult holding onto it.

 

[Feather Fluff]

UPDATE: we implemented everyone's ideas!

2 tupperware connected together on a bench securing the brooder from tipping so it can only be removed by lifting straight up a good 6". They are silkies and were actually cold at 105°F the first day they were happiest at 109°F and have plenty of room to roam with an alternate heat source at the opposite end of the brooder.

Everyone seems to really enjoy seeing the chicks including the cat. He (cat) does get a water bottle spray if he climbs on top of brooder and he's locked up with us at night away from chicks. So there's no unsupervised time though I don't think the cat can get to them. Toddler is in love with chicks and sits quietly watching them for long time periods.

We are using the adult holding chick while Toddler (21 months) touches with 1 finger. It's going well.

Thank you everyone!