Free range with working cats on the ranch?

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Sorry for the cat lovers but if one is on my property it's shoot to kill. Got one big black one last year and I'm certain it killed three of my pullets. I've seen a yellow tom near by and he's next.
A feral cat is hell for wildlife. They will wipe out small game in one season. Sure, people say they are good for rodent control and on the farm e had cats, and we also had plenty of mice, until I caught and released several black snakes in the barn and no more mice. Having a pet cat is one thing, letting it roam free is another...soon I will feel like hunting again and so long to yellow tom. I have alot of chicks right now and I'm sure the peeps are drawing him in.

 

[Imp]

Cats are a very rare predator for adult chickens. Of course it can happen, but you will be more likely protecting the cats from the chickens.
I have ferals, strays, and pet cats that I feed and many that visit. None have been any problem, except for trying to take winter naps in the warm coop.
Raccoons, on the other hand, and the other predators you mention are a very serious threat. And raccoons are opportunistic, they will come out in the daytime if there is good reason. And chicken dinner is a good reason.

Imp

 

[Chicken Troop]

Greetings everyone. My main reason for joining today was an incident that happened with our two month old chickens.

In an egg shell (haha), my coop is built but the run isn't. I have a temporary run to let them out into while I'm around the yard...no top to it.

I was at work and my wife wasn't and I let them out before I left. At some point during the morning, a neighboring cat came around and spooked them. Three of them flew the run and two were brought back to safety. One wasn't. I left work when my wife called me and was home within 30 minutes. The cat wouldn't leave and even ran back to the coop right in front of us. Anyways, I found the last chick hiding under a fern.

Two out of the three chicks have some injury to their waddles closest to the beak but will be fine I think. The cat either bit or clawed them or bit them. I guarantee they put up a fight to protect themselves. I'm sure they are still a bit shaken up because they haven't gone out in their run even while I'm here.

So ya, determined cats and chickens that aren't fully grown don't make a good combo. I should add that I don't have a rooster because I really can't have one calling in the morning where I am. But I wish I did today to teach that cat a lesson.

So there it is, my first post talking about my fairly new chicks being spooked and run down by a very determined cat.

Time to go see how they are doing. Bye for now.