Fairly certain a neighbour's cat just killed one cock and three hens.

[welasharon]

Quote:
X2

I have NEVER seen a cat kill an adult chicken.. and I have been around cats and chickens all my life

Sure I have seen a stray or two CHASE them.. but when in a fight between a cat and chicken the chicken has always won.. and I have seen some roos and a few mad broody hens tear a cat up

more likely it was something else that got them and the cat just happened to be there being nosy

Yes mine wanted to stalk and jump at them but they have never tried to kill them.
sharon

 

[Mattemma]

I suppose a feral cat would go for chicks. I say trap and relocate.Even if it wasn't the cat I think roamers(pet or stray) are annoying,and need to be removed.

 

[harveyhorses]

I am very sorry for your loss, I really am, but how are you 'fairly certain? To me it does not sound like a 'cat kill' they USUALLY just kill one, or focus on one, which give others time to get away. It is canines tand others that go for mass murders, USUALLY.
You could have a new predator in the area. You CAN have healthy happy chickens and keep them fenced. If you have invested so much in their breeding, you might want to invest a little more in their safety.

 

[featherz]

I'd be sure it was the cat before SSS or other solutions. I could see a feral doing it (although mine never have) but it doesn't sound like something a well fed housecat would do. You could get rid of the cat and find out it was something else entirely.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

What is it with cats this week? The weather? just eliminated a feral tom after the chickens the other day...looked like a small puma, quite healthy and in pretty good shape. I'm sure the chicks were the first target but once a cat learns to kill, it rather enjoys it..a large chicken is no problem for a feral cat, or one that knows how to kill...I noticed a reduction in the grouse pop around here too, now that they are gone, it came here..
Sorry to hear about your losses, people dont realize the destruction a cat can do to the enviroment, since they are not a 'natural' species, I do my best to eliminate them..I understand alot of people like them for pets, but please don't release them into the wild, they carry fleas and disease, and will poo in chickens dust bath..

 

[southerndesert]

Trap and relocate a feral cat? You are kidding right?

Eliminate it as opposed to relocating just to make it someone other persons problem.

Cats DO KILL AND EAT CHICKENS AND CHICKS PEOPLE!

Have seen it first hand many times over the years....

 

[Imp]

I'm so sorry for your loss JonInNorway.
I hope you can identify the predator. That doesn't sound like typical cat behavior. I've had & have ferals, strays, and pet cats in the yard with the chickens and have never had an attack. Perhaps you have something else after your chickens.
Whatever is killing your chickens I hope you can identify and eliminate, to keep your chickens safe.

Once again, Sorry

Imp

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
yeah I have seen them kill CHICKS.. but NEVER a full grown chicken unless we're talking bantams

I seriously doubt a stray cat can take out a good sized rooster unless it's one heck of a BIG cat

sure anything is possible.. but in the case of a cat killing ADULT large fowl i still say it's highly doubtful.. and for them to kill several for fun?.. nope.. i would say that sounds like the work of a canine

and btw.. that DOES NOT look like a full grown ADULT chicken in that picture.. show me a video of a domestic house type cat chasing down and killing a big ol adult Jersey Giant roo and THEN I will change my mind

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
That is a chick... not an adult chicken.


Cats won't attack full grown chickens unless they are really desperate, and if your nieghbours cat has food available to it, I doubt it would have bothered taking down ONE chicken. Three adults birds killed is not the work of a cat. You have another predator lurking around.

 

[flowergirl60]

Quote:
X2

I have NEVER seen a cat kill an adult chicken.. and I have been around cats and chickens all my life

Sure I have seen a stray or two CHASE them.. but when in a fight between a cat and chicken the chicken has always won.. and I have seen some roos and a few mad broody hens tear a cat up

more likely it was something else that got them and the cat just happened to be there being nosy

x2