Freeranging-Will cats kill chickens?

[joedie]

I really would like to let my chickens free range but I have 2 barn cats and am concerned that they could kill them. A neighbor told me yesterday that the chickens can really clobber the cats. Is this true? I'm afraid to let them out. If so, how far will they range? We have 50 acres. I wouldn't think they would go that far?

 

[GlenwoodFarm]

Good question, had the same one myself. Standard chickens are pretty big, i feel like most cats couldn't handle it but not entirely sure... Interested to hear some responses

 

[EllyMae]

I have several female cats that are ferocious hunters(or huntresses?) and they bring in some really big varmits...but when it comes to the chickens they don't want any part of them. One of my cats, Nala, follows me down to the chicken houses but steers clear of the ladies.

 

[Luna_Chick66]

This is good to know because I have close to 20 cats (I took care of a few litters from some local ferals).

 

[EllyMae]

I'm not sure about feral cats...mine are pets that stay outside keeping the rodent population down but they are tame. I have a 22 lb tom cat( who is NOT a hunter cause he's so lazy) and he wigs out if the chickens even look at him. I usually have to carry him back to the house and give him a treat to calm his nerves, haha.

 

[Preservation Acres]

I have two house cats that I let out of the house from time to time when my hens are free ranging.

My cats are TERRIFIED of the chickens, but that's house cats.

 

[SallyF]

Quote:
EllyMae, I also have a 22 lb neutered tomcat. Mine is so lazy that he wonn't even go outside unless the door is left wide open so he can get back in if anything scares him (and everything does! He won't even look at the chickens!) I have two other cats who spend a lot of time outside birdhunting and catching mice, etc., but they give the free-ranging chickens a wide berth.

 

[Luna_Chick66]

Quote:
since I finally captured the momma cat and got her spayed her and the 2 tom cats have disappeared.

Her kittens, I kept all 3 litters, are in and out... they are all domesticated.

*edit - yes, I am fixing/spaying them all, too.

 

[mrbstephens]

PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL!!!! My one year old kitten killed one of my pullets when she was about 10 weeks old. He was going with his instincts and jumped on her, bit her once on the top of the head and that was all it took. It happened so fast. Since then, I still lock him in my bedroom when the now 19 week old chickens are free ranging. I've brought him out there to see what would happen and immediately he charged one of my hens. Lucky I stopped him while screaming and clapping as loud as I could. My 7 year old cat couldn't care less. He lays around and lets the chickens practically walk on him. Each cat is different. I would watch them closely and if any of them get down in a stalking position then you'd better keep you chickens safe from them. Better to be safe than sorry!

 

[saddina]

Generally no, but they will take a chick/juvinille if they can. Here the guide is once the chicken is as tall as the cats, it's ok. Some people do have cats around that'll take down a chicken, but that's a very small number of cats.