First predator contact.

[domromer]

This morning my wife looked at the window and saw the chickens running onto the back porch. Further down the yard a cat was slinking along the ground. It appeared to be stalking them. I'm an animal lover, but the cat didn't belong to me and I like my chickens a lot. I ran out to the backyard and threw and apple at it, then the dogs chased it over the fence. I guess i'm going to need to put some harware cloth and my new tractor instead of just chicken wire. Would a cat attack a 12 week old hen? Or was it just messing around, like when a cat stalks a shoe string.

 

[Patchofheaven]

We have 3 cats and they get curious, but as soon as our Roo spots them near the pen - he gets cocky and they get scared and run away. Maybe our cats are just chicken. lol

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Most cats won't attack and kill an adult chicken, but I have heard of it happening a couple of times. It's rare.

 

[Rooster01]

Cats can attack chickens although they won't normally tackle a grown hen. They would attack a 12 week old hen in a heartbeat though.

 

[Nyna]

I have three barn cats and they haven't bothered my year olds a bit! In fact I've seen my chickens walking up the cats checking them out and the cats just sit there like 'what are you looking at?".

 

[Standard Hen]

My cats have never bothered my chickens either no matter what the age they seem like they could care less. I always thought it so weird because they are cats and chickens are birds. In the past some of my grown hens actually will chase the cats.

 

[silkiechicken]

If the cat is large and desperate it might get chick, or banty, but a full grown hen unlikley. My cat who kills mice for a living doesn't even touch my 3 week old banties I let free range by themselves. As soon as she spots a hen headed to her and her food, she gets out of the way fast. I wouldn't worry about the cat, but better safe than sorry since there are other things that can get your birds.