house cat and bantams

[Rondiesel]

So we've got the chicken bug and have decided to build another chicken run and convert our shed into another chicken house. We would like to start a bantam flock of hens in our current coop and attached run 10x25 with 7 foot fencing around it except for one side which is my house, and wire accross the top every 10 inches for flyers, although never had an issue. I would not like to attach a ledger board to my house and build a full blown roof or hardware cloth frame on top.There is a large tree over the top for shade and hawk cover. We would move our large hens into the new coop and run. My question is if anyone has issues with cats and bantams? Our cat loves to lay on top of the run fencing and even inside the run. The chickens don't mind him and he could care less about the chickens. We have raised a lot of Coturnix quail however over the years, and if they get out, he kills pretty quick. They are james marie birds so they are pretty big for the quail world 14-15 ounces. I know the banties are bigger but not by a ton. Thats our background anyway, just curious of others with cats and bantams around, and if they had any issues. Worst case we just get more large fowl chickens and skip the bantams. Wife would love a bantie flock though.

 

[JaeG]

I'd say a full grown bantam would be fine with a cat and chickens are much more likely to stand up for themselves than a quail is. One experience with a broody bantam should make your cat keep his distance too! Our neighbour's cat is a hunter of birds and he made the mistake of jumping in the bantam coop one day (out of curiosity and because he didn't want me to stop patting him) while I was collecting eggs. Except there was a broody in there! He exited pretty quickly!

If you've got hawks you'll need to keep bantams confined to their run. The fluffier ones aren't as quick (especially if they have feathered feet) so are at risk of getting caught out. And bantams are such an easy size to carry off.

Bantams are my favourites - so much personality in such a little package!

We are lucky as our cats ignore escapee Button quail chicks running around the house (we have a lot of birds of all descriptions so birds are not a novelty to them).

 

[Rondiesel]

that sounds great! thanks for the reply. Our cat is well fed and a great mouser. I have caught him once when he moved the lid and crawled in a big brooder with quail chicks. didn't touch em lol he just wanted to lay in the bedding. I dunno why he loves to catch the adult quail escapees, but the jumbo coturnix dont really have many skills as far as escaping either. I'm hoping the banties will be ok, they seem awesome to have, and just big enough to be too much fight.

 

[RiverOtter]

Generally adult bantams are too fighty, especially if you get one of the feistier breeds. The trick is to keep them separate until they are full grown, because nothing is more suicidal than a half-grown chick and you don't want him getting the idea that there's any chance of him pulling it off.