Dangers of Cats?

[Tinkerbell531]

My Husband and I were gifted 7 Hens, and we are adding a Rooster to the coop this Saturday. Through all of my excitement I did not realize that we have one problem; our cat! How will we keep the cat from messing with and terrorizing our chickens? They are going to be free range chickens and we won't always be home to keep an eye on them. I don't want to come home to a poor Hen (or our rooster) being eaten by our cat.

 

[lilmillefleur]

The cat is an outdoor cat? Maybe just keep it inside...?
I would watch its behavior around them and then make your own call. Some cats don't bother with grown chickens but will kill chicks, others will kill adults.

 

[Tinkerbell531]

The cat is an outdoor cat? Maybe just keep it inside...?
I would watch its behavior around them and then make your own call. Some cats don't bother with grown chickens but will kill chicks, others will kill adults.

Our cat is an indoor/outdoor cat. Always has been, even when we lived in the city. So, we won't be able to make that transition.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

My cat loves the ducks and flocks with them even sharing treats. Every cat is different i suppose but mine is a great hunter, he just doesn't see ducks as prey, only as companions. That said I never let him have access to lings.

 

[sassysarah]

There is no way to keep your cat from bothering your chickens if he wants to. Either keep him inside ALWAYS, or sell either the cat or chickens. You could try to cover your pen but your cat will probably find someway to get in.

My cats don't bother my chickens, but all cats are different.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I’ve seen cats that are side by side with chickens and ducks.
I’ve also have seen cats go after chickens especially babies.
I have my own opinions. But they are your pets bottom line.
I’ve seen animals kept so many different ways so my opinion doesn’t matter. It’s what you can live with.
Best wishes

 

[Headhen3]

I have lots of chickens (close to 100) and lots of cats running around on 20 acres. No problems with cats and chickens. Ive seen mexican stand offs ens when a chicken pesks the cats forhead. Ive seen cats rub up against a chicken and the chicken shakes as if to saw “Ugh - cat hair!”. Only once with young pullets running around like 14 year old girls did i see a cat even look at a chicken as if it were prey. I cleared my throat and told the cat that inadvisable behavior would not be tolerated. Ive had kittens keep warm under a hen. Auto cow wrecks not so good here.
Anyway keep an eye out but i have had not problems with cats and chickens coexisting.

 

[chickens really]

My Cat has never bothered with a Chickens or my Call Ducks.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Clearly the cat has to go.

Gary

 

[proudmommie31]

My outside cats never bothered the chickens. In fact the cats would lay in the driveway and the chickens would walk up to them and peck the ground all around them and they didn’t care a bit. The stray cats in the neighborhood have never made an attempt on my chickens. They do a bang up job on the field mice though