Hi all, hoping to start our chicken flock soon...

[quilisma]

I've wanted to be a chicken mom for years, and now that we actually own a home and the property zoning allows chickens (yes, that was a "must" when we were house-hunting!) we plan to start a flock as soon as the chicken house is built. (DH won't let me order the chicks till that's done... LOL)

This will be my first time actually owning chickens, but DH grew up caring for a flock of a hundred or so chickens on his grandfather's farm, so I will be drawing on his experience. Looking forward to learning from all of you!

One thing I am wondering off the bat: do you find that cats can learn to get along with chickens? Our kitties, Joanie Jett and Rosalind, are indoor cats, but we do let them outside occasionally to play and nosh on some grass. They're 18 months old and love to pretend they're little panthers, if age is a factor.

thanks! Robin

 

[Eggcessive]

When my chicks were about 4 weeks old I let them out in a big cage on the grass protected from dogs, cats, etc. Whenever our cats came near I scolded them with a growly "No!" They have never really bothered them since, but I would not ever trust them with young chicks. When they go to the big coop around 7 weeks old, I leave them in there for a couple of weeks until they are big enough so that cats don't bother them.

 

[onebigglo1]

I have seen of my neighbors cats in the yard with my chickens before without harming them. I believe once the rooster set them in their "place", it wasn't a problem. I do have 4 chicks I hatched under my mom's hen when she went broody that I keep in a large dog crate with the hen until they get bigger. My mom's cat is a real hunter and I wouldn't trust him around them.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Hello and
Cats and chickens should be no problem at all. One warning look from my hens and the neighbourhood cats are sent yowling on their way... I'd keep them apart when the chickens are young though, a little fluffy chick wouldn't be so intimidatinng.
Anyway, don't hesitate to ask any othher questions you might have, and I hope you enjoy the site!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined.

 

[dreamer5577]

Hi && Welcome!!!

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Hello, and

!

I have two cats and they get along with the chickens just fine. I never allowed the cats to be near the chickens until the chickens were nearly grown. At that point, they were too big for the cats to bother with them. They basically ignore each other most of the time.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[NonnasBabies]

Welcome from Louisiana!

 

[greymane]