Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ManueB]

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It was definitely a Caturday here. We spent the morning introducing the cats to the birds. It went quite well no one was injured or even chased. Though I would not remotely trust either of our tough and tumble barn cats with the chickens alone.

They are one of my main concerns once the flock is full grown and ready to free range. We shall see as my cats are full grown accomplished hunters who take out mice, voles, fish, and even a squirrel or two and thats just what I know about. They are mainly outdoor kitties so I have my doubts if it can work but maybe with these supervised visits idk . The tweens are entirely unconcerned about the cats presence which worries me a great deal. If anyone has experience with this Id love to hear about it

I asked exactly the same question on the thread when Chipie hatched the chicks . And got a lot of interedting and conflicting answers ! Some people said with a proper introduction it would be all right, especially if the cats wished to please their humans and understood "no"... others thought it was best not to let them together until adults.

My two cats were raised as barn cats, though they now are allowed in the house, they are excellent hunters. They are very cautious of our adult chickens who are also cautious of them ; if anyone attack, it's the chicken and not the cat. With the chicks it was a different matter! They began free ranging with Chipie from a week old and my male cat was drooling everytime he saw them. I didn't leave them alone when he was around until they were two months old, and still then he would eye Merle and Piou-piou. The chicks also didn't heed him in the beginning, but as they grew up and learnt to be on their own, they became more and more frightened of both cats. Even though they were raised by a broody, it didn't come for quite a while.

I think it's really about size- as long as the chicks are the size of what they hunt there is a risk. But of course you should begin by supervised time together and see what happens!

 

[ValarieF]

I am so sorry to hear about tour pain levels being so high I hope the adorable chicks help you focus on something else even temporary distractions can help a bit. They are adorable

The chicks and chickens do help they relax me.

 

[knoturavggrl]

I asked exactly the same question on the thread when Chipie hatched the chicks . And got a lot of interedting and conflicting answers ! Some people said with a proper introduction it would be all right, especially if the cats wished to please their humans and understood "no"... others thought it was best not to let them together until adults.

My two cats were raised as barn cats, though they now are allowed in the house, they are excellent hunters. They are very cautious of our adult chickens who are also cautious of them ; if anyone attack, it's the chicken and not the cat. With the chicks it was a different matter! They began free ranging with Chipie from a week old and my male cat was drooling everytime he saw them. I didn't leave them alone when he was around until they were two months old, and still then he would eye Merle and Piou-piou. The chicks also didn't heed him in the beginning, but as they grew up and learnt to be on their own, they became more and more frightened of both cats. Even though they were raised by a broody, it didn't come for quite a while.

I think it's really about size- as long as the chicks are the size of what they hunt there is a risk. But of course you should begin by supervised time together and see what happens!

Thank you for all the great info and for sharing your experience that is incredibly helpful
Before I got them I figured if I lost one it would be sad but acceptable… fast forward to now they are almost 11 weeks old .. its no longer acceptable to lose one due a preventable event. They have me wrapped around their little dino toes!!
I will do as you suggested and be patient let them grow and let their instincts mature and kept doing supervised visits with the cats. Combined it sounds like there is a chance once they are full grown that the cats will no longer be a big threat. Ill just have be observant. Thank you again!

 

[BY Bob]

Final chick count on Bunny is 4 and she has them out and about. She hatched out 5 but over night she had a black one pass. The other 4 are very feisty. I did call at hatch one of hers blue, I was wrong, it fluffed up to be brown. The biggest surprise was her final chick to hatch, a butter egg. I have another white fluffy feet Butter baby. Please everyone, lets pray and hope that one is a girl, it will be my keeper. Here are a few pictures of them.
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Wonderful!

 

[featherhead007]

And now I can't use Motrin so I gotta stop at Walgreens or dollar general on the way home to get some tylenol.

My world has come crashing down lately too. Price of king crab legs are up 600%
Crab season was closed (missing crabs)
Nobody knows what happened. And I can’t eat imitation crab meat
+ Chaco
+ my aches and pains
+ property tax increases

 

[Ponypoor]

Raven's final count is 5 chicks. She's got hers off the nest this afternoon. I thought I would have another day or so before Blueberry's start hatching. I was wrong, she already has 1 out. I had given Blueberry 1 of her own eggs when I set her, it was the first one to hatch. Another little blue chick.

Oh I am so thrilled - the babies are so cute, everyone has wee ones I am living vicariously through all of you.

 

[featherhead007]

Im loaded: Diclofenac Sodium cream, muscle relaxer and ice pack and still in pain.
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I have 4 tubes of Diclo I haven’t even used.

 

[Ponypoor]

My world has come crashing down lately too. Price of king crab legs are up 600%
Crab season was closed (missing crabs)
Nobody knows what happened. And I can’t eat imitation crab meat
+ Chaco
+ my aches and pains
+ property tax increases

Sorry to hear of this, I will miss Chaco too
I feel for you with the aches and pains, and everything is so expensive! It’s a topsy turvy world these days.

I can add my $500 plumbing bill from last night to the list but guess these things are to be expected when one owns a home.

Topsy Turvy Tax

 

[featherhead007]

Thank you for all the great info and for sharing your experience that is incredibly helpful
Before I got them I figured if I lost one it would be sad but acceptable… fast forward to now they are almost 11 weeks old .. its no longer acceptable to lose one due a preventable event. They have me wrapped around their little dino toes!!
I will do as you suggested and be patient let them grow and let their instincts mature and kept doing supervised visits with the cats. Combined it sounds like there is a chance once they are full grown that the cats will no longer be a big threat. Ill just have be observant. Thank you again!

 

[featherhead007]

Sorry to hear of this, I will miss Chaco too
I feel for you with the aches and pains, and everything is so expensive! It’s a topsy turvy world these days.

I can add my $500 plumbing bill from last night to the list but guess these things are to be expected when one owns a home.

Topsy Turvy Tax
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Yep