Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Kris5902]

Killer Cat?

Has anyone ever had a cat kill one of their hens? I just flushed a cat from around my coop. When I grew up cats and chickens lived together in barns. I have never heard of a full size chicken being killed by a cat.

In fact, before Aurora came in the big coop today (yes again), this stare down went on. When she camer in, Davis ran away from her. (Then again he is friends with mice, not a great cat example)

View attachment 2015585

I don’t think that is what you’re after trapping. Is it possible... maybe with a bantam or smaller birds, but I can’t see it happening to a full sized chicken. I still think you’re looking at a weasel or raccoon, ruling out the owl option based of the hawk proofness of the run, but the little buggers can climb pretty well, and managed to sneak through a small gap it made in the bird netting.

 

[micstrachan]

Since her molt, Hattie is spectacular.

Here is a better photo. I have never heard of the ragged feather gene. That's kind of sad. Im sorry yours have it.
View attachment 2015576

She’s beautiful!

 

[featherhead007]

I could swear, that my little Buff O gave me two eggs today! It's nice to be so loved!

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, I have some fun reading to catch up on later! (Still at work.) So glad it’s Friday!

 

[micstrachan]

Killer Cat?

Has anyone ever had a cat kill one of their hens? I just flushed a cat from around my coop. When I grew up cats and chickens lived together in barns. I have never heard of a full size chicken being killed by a cat.

In fact, before Aurora came in the big coop today (yes again), this stare down went on. When she camer in, Davis ran away from her. (Then again he is friends with mice, not a great cat example)

View attachment 2015585

Nope. My neighbor has a bunch of outdoor cats that mingle with the hens. The hens definitely outrank the cats. However, sometimes I cringe thinking, “Sweetie, you have no idea. If you two got in a fight, the cat would surely win.” Currently, if a hen approaches, the cats get out of the way.

 

[RoyalChick]

I don’t think that is what you’re after trapping. Is it possible... maybe with a bantam or smaller birds, but I can’t see it happening to a full sized chicken. I still think you’re looking at a weasel or raccoon, ruling out the owl option based of the hawk proofness of the run, but the little buggers can climb pretty well, and managed to sneak through a small gap it made in the bird netting.

I agree. I don't have that much experience of chickens but I have a lot of experience of cats and I don't think a domestic cat would be very likely to kill a grown chicken. Not impossible but unlikely. It might take a swipe, but even that might not do much damage given the feathers. Was the cat you saw stalking/hunting or just 'visiting' and curious?

 

[Kris5902]

Nope. My neighbor has a bunch of outdoor cats that mingle with the hens. The hens definitely outrank the cats. However, sometimes I cringe thinking, “Sweetie, you have no idea. If you two got in a fight, the cat would surely win.” Currently, if a hen approaches, the cats get out of the way.

I don’t know about that... some of those hens can be pretty vicious... mine have bullied and driven off Ravens that are significantly larger than they are. And if Chickie Hawk ever gets within striking distance of a cat... based on how my boot and legs fare when he attacks me, I don’t think the cat would be in a good way at all.

 

[BY Bob]

I agree. I don't have that much experience of chickens but I have a lot of experience of cats and I don't think a domestic cat would be very likely to kill a grown chicken. Not impossible but unlikely. It might take a swipe, but even that might not do much damage given the feathers. Was the cat you saw stalking/hunting or just 'visiting' and curious?

I wonder if the cat is hunting the weasel or raccoon?

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I've read a time or two, on here, that cats have killed full grown chickens, but I've never seen it! We've got a lot of barn cats running around and get some big toms with them. I would think in the last ten years we would've had a problem with cats if we were going to Probably not a real common occurrence, if it indeed does occur at all. We do feed our cats, however.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

I have been unhappy that because of construction I cannot get any good photos of my Princesses. So instead I am sharing a video from the summer. For me this never gets old. After a hard day tilling, fertilizing and destroying bugs in the raised beds where I grow vegetables, the Princesses suddenly realize it is time to go home. In spite of the rather ungainly waddle they go really fast! It makes me laugh every time I see them go. Sad that now there are only 3 of them.

That is a priceless video. Makes me sad that the flock I’m tending only has a run, and I’ve never seen a full on gait like that over a long distance! The closest we came to that was with the previous flock—when I walked to the coop, they ran past the coop door and did a full counterclockwise lap around the coop itself before joining me inside to gawk at whatever I was doing. Since our venting is all along the coop floor perimeter, I could see the shadows of their little legs and bodies from inside the coop as they went around like a poultry Kentucky Derby. I called it a “coop loop.”