Hi from Africa!

[Tong Gweno]

Hi, I've just joined this site because I keep chickens and it seems like a great resource.

I have loads of questions and stuff I'd like to ask

The most pressing one though is about cats. I have a problem with rats at my house - they eat eggs and I want to get rid of them without using poison or traps. Does anyone know if introducing a cat would threaten my chicks?

Thanks!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a really nice learning center

You need to put in some 1/4" inch wire along the bottom of your coop and 1 foot into the ground and two feet above the ground and as it is 3 feet wide or 1 meter putting one third of the with of the wire below the ground will help keep them from digging into your coop and the other two thirds above ground then wire tie it to the rest of your fence for strength .....

Some of our flock

This is a wild Bob Cat that we caught several months ago he
just could not let go of the Rooster and he wound up becoming
a permanent guest .......

Newest additions to the yard

This is the way we keep chicks for the first 10 weeks

gander007

 

[Tong Gweno]

Thanks for the advice.

What I meant was, would a normal domestic cat pose a problem to my chicks? I don't keep the chicks separate.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Ya, ferals sure swill, and even domestic house cats will take chicks/chickens if given the opportunity. BYC article on cats are predators, there are a lot of threads in the Predator section if you want to do a search. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/cat-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-cats

 

[TwoCrows]

Kelsie X2! Check out that thread and maybe it will give you some ideas as to how to solve this problem.

Good luck with all your poultry adventures and welcome to BYC!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Cats can be predators - generally of juvenile chickens, but a determined/hungry cat might tackle an adult. A good broody game hens with chicks can generally educate a cat that chick killing is NOT a good idea.

 

[drumstick diva]

Family dogs and cats, are often the first predators to attack your chicks.