Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

I think it would be hard to get an older dog especially with chickens around if you didn't know how they would do with them. HEChicken was lucky she could do a trial to see how the dog would do first & she lucked out. I'm sure other people haven't been so lucky that way. I know if my little Yorkie was allowed to be out there she definitely would not leave the chickens alone. Of course the chickens are bigger than her.

 

[HEChicken]

My cats would never eat chicken feed, fermented or not. They are way too picky! In fact I have to buy a couple different flavors in one breed due to their preferences. And then they get special treats like tuna etc at least twice a day. They get that special treatment only so they don't drive us insane begging for it. The dogs however love it and will often choose grain over their dog food.

Mine either. I think any cat willing to eat chicken food probably doesn't have access to enough else to eat, since I can't imagine it would be their preferred diet.

Danz, it sounds like you spoil your cats! Mine only get the juice I drain OFF the tuna - never the tuna itself. And only on the rare occasion I happen to be opening a can of tuna. The rest of the time I use a gravity feeder and just keep it full. I've always had good luck doing that as I've found that once they realize there is a never-ending supply of food, they don't need to over-indulge. I've only ever had one cat with a weight problem and that was caused by other medical issues primarily. Once his other conditions resolved, his weight dropped back down too. I haven't even found that offering a constant food source reduces their prey drive - mine are both still VERY eager to catch mice any chance they get.

...I am not sure if I would be comfortable getting a older shelther dog without being able to "try them out" like HEchicken was able to (I believe that was you that got to do that)

Yep - you remembered right. Being able to try them is important when it comes to compatibility with poultry but most rescue organizations and even a lot of private people are willing to do a trial period.

I think it would be hard to get an older dog especially with chickens around if you didn't know how they would do with them. HEChicken was lucky she could do a trial to see how the dog would do first & she lucked out. I'm sure other people haven't been so lucky that way. I know if my little Yorkie was allowed to be out there she definitely would not leave the chickens alone. Of course the chickens are bigger than her.

I think smaller dogs in general are less good with poultry. A few months back when I was considering adopting a smaller dog, that is what I ran into in searching for breeds - most of them didn't have a good rep when it came to prey drive.

 

[Trish44]

My cats have to wait to get fed till all of the birds are fed first, so there are a few of them that will get into the FF just because they're bored waiting I think. They all get fed plenty, they just like to get into whatever anybody else is getting. Mine prefer Meow Mix, we have tried other brands & they won't eat them very well, so we have to give them that one. HEChicken, you know how many cats I have so there is no way we could keep food out for them all the time. They also have lots of mice around here to go catch, but they still get fed anyway. The mice are just an extra snack when they get one or a mole if they happen to catch one of those. They sometimes even catch a small rabbit.

 

[ashncarson]

I went out to see the chickens a bit ago and about stepped on one who stopped right in front of me and dropped down to the ground.....is that the "squating" that you hear about? She about got stepped on! This is the white Silkie/D' uccle mix. I was even able to pet her

 

[chicken danz]

Mine either. I think any cat willing to eat chicken food probably doesn't have access to enough else to eat, since I can't imagine it would be their preferred diet.

Danz, it sounds like you spoil your cats! Mine only get the juice I drain OFF the tuna - never the tuna itself. And only on the rare occasion I happen to be opening a can of tuna. The rest of the time I use a gravity feeder and just keep it full. I've always had good luck doing that as I've found that once they realize there is a never-ending supply of food, they don't need to over-indulge. I've only ever had one cat with a weight problem and that was caused by other medical issues primarily. Once his other conditions resolved, his weight dropped back down too. I haven't even found that offering a constant food source reduces their prey drive - mine are both still VERY eager to catch mice any chance they get.

Yep - you remembered right. Being able to try them is important when it comes to compatibility with poultry but most rescue organizations and even a lot of private people are willing to do a trial period.

I think smaller dogs in general are less good with poultry. A few months back when I was considering adopting a smaller dog, that is what I ran into in searching for breeds - most of them didn't have a good rep when it came to prey drive.

I agree but I also understand how Trish can't keep cat food out all the time. My dogs or the chickens would eat the cat food if I had it outside. When we did have outdoor cats they got fed in the shop where the chickens and dogs couldn't go. Simple solution. We had a section of hog panel that slid back and forth in front of the door. The cats could climb through the holes but the chickens and dogs couldn't. I'd like to have a few outside cats to keep the mice somewhat controlled but I don't want any more mouths to feed.
Ash that sounds like that is what she was doing. They just kind of flatten themselves to the ground.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh yeah, as many cats as Trish has I totally get it. Also, dogs love cat food so there has to be a way to prevent the dogs getting to it if leaving it out all the time. I was able to prop the door on our three season room open wide enough that the cat can get in and out Bit the dogs and birds can't and that is the only way I can leave it out all the time for the outside cat. Out inside Is not a problem since we don't have any other pets in the house except for her.

Trish, that's interesting that the cats like the FF too. Did they also used to eat the food when you fed dry feed?

 

[KsKingBee]

IThe cats take care of themselves and I've never seen them again after releasing - but, they're out there somewhere eating rodents!

And small rabbits, and quail, and pheasants, and prairie chickens, and killdeer, and sandpipers, and every ground dwelling bird and small mammal. They also rob young from nests in trees. Feral cats are the most devastating problem to natural wildlife there is, they should all be extinguished. People that think it is a good idea to have them in the wild are sorely mistaken and do not understand the harm they do to the environment.

Sorry, I love wildlife and cats do not belong in it.

 

[mrsdanamiller]

I'd just give her penicillin G. It is cheap.. like btwn $10 -$16 for a bottle but you would have to inject it. A small bottle would last forever because you give very little. I'd check BYC for dosage or send a message to JosieChick and see what she advises.

thanks so much! I will probably do that. I had no clue it was that affordable.

[COLOR=0000FF]mrsdanamiller, depending on where in Haysville you are it is about 45 minutes to my place. We're on the northeast edge outside of Winfield.[/COLOR]

Hey there, I'd love to help. Let me ask hubby if he wants me driving that far though.

Wow. I didn't think I'd been away that long, but it's been over 40 posts and five pages! 

I have no idea what's going on any more. Hopefully I can catch up when I have a little more time. I hope everyone's staying warm and well. 

Lol I feel that way all.the.time.

I'm getting in the spring mood and finding that having too much time on my hands is not a good thing lol

I know how you feel I have artful shooting fever and am obsessing over garden planning currently

 

[Ralph Moyer]

We have three cats. One is an inside cat and the other two are indoor/ outdoor cats. although the older cat is more indoor in the winter months and the neutered male is in more in the summer during the day as he has a long, thick coat. They have a gravity feeder for dry cat food, but the older cat was going down hill( she is over 18 years old) so I got her a better type of canned food. She likes beef and chicken with lots of gravy, but not fish. She has gained the weight she lost so I guess she just wasn't eating. Now when she is hungry, she goes to her bowl and sets and stares at it and if we don't respond she lets out a loud mew. The indoor cat gets flustered with the other two because when it is very cold, they use her litter- box and they don't "flush"! She has to do it for them.

 

[HEChicken]

And small rabbits, and quail, and pheasants, and prairie chickens, and killdeer, and sandpipers, and every ground dwelling bird and small mammal. They also rob young from nests in trees. Feral cats are the most devastating problem to natural wildlife there is, they should all be extinguished. People that think it is a good idea to have them in the wild are sorely mistaken and do not understand the harm they do to the environment.

Sorry, I love wildlife and cats do not belong in it.

Well said! I couldn't agree more.