Housing a feral cat inside the chicken run for rodent control?

[Evadig]

Does the cat not have a shelter?

No, the chicken coop is the only place for her. We do have a catio but that's for the black cat Brianna. They don't get along. That is, Brianna tries to attack Francine. All the buildings on the property are occupied by chickens (except our house) so Francine just lives in my largest chicken coop.

 

[RPw1690]

What about adding some Guinea fowl to your flock? They eat rodents as well as ticks, fleas and other bugs and will chase off snakes and loudly warn of other predators sniffing around. They’re more likely to peacefully coexist with your chickens, need pretty much the same conditions, eat the same food etc, and will produce edible eggs as well.

Guinea fowl, 17 of them, will keep the rodents out of sight during the day, but rats tunneling under the 1” square fencing wait until evening to raid the feeders. Even found a nest of them underground in the run, moved in through the tunnel and stay in the run. Food & water, big fat ones with babies.

 

[McChooky]

No, the chicken coop is the only place for her. We do have a catio but that's for the black cat Brianna. They don't get along. That is, Brianna tries to attack Francine. All the buildings on the property are occupied by chickens (except our house) so Francine just lives in my largest chicken coop.

Maybe you can get her a dog house and hang a curtain over the entrance? An open air coop is cold for a lone cat in zone 6.( Not sure where you're at)

 

[Evadig]

Maybe you can get her a dog house and hang a curtain over the entrance? An open air coop is cold for a lone cat in zone 6.( Not sure where you're at)

She has housing and lots of blankets to snuggle into within the chicken coop, and I’ll be putting up the plastic around the coop soon. I might even get her a heated bed or something…how cold can cats handle? She’s about four-five months old if that makes a difference? I’m near Hagerstown, MD.

And I’m sorry OP that I borrowed your thread !

 

[Greg Zeigler]

My land is a certified wildlife habitat and I have many birds, rabbits, fox, deer and more species that live here, so just having "barn cats" on the property is too much of a danger to my wildlife population.
I've kept chickens for 16 years, in a predator-proof run and coop (never been breached by anything other than rodents and snakes). I currently have 26 birds, both full-size and bantams. I keep my bulk feed in sealed containers in a separate storage cabinet and I use peppermint and other oils and cayenne in this enclosure, so no rodent problem there. But in the coop and run I still have an ongoing rodent problem and this scented deterrent requires constant refreshing and even then doesn't really have any effect in these large open-air spaces. I've tried different types of feeders, but none work well as feeders or rodent control. I keep a few traps but, again, this is labor intensive (forever) and doesn't provide a permanent solution. Because of my protected wildlife habitat, poisons are not in the conversation.
I am a "cat person" having had indoor cats for 48 years and a few outdoor feral cats as well. To my knowledge none of my feral cats ever bothered my chickens even when they free range, but eventually I have lost all outdoor-only cats to predators. So, I have been considering bringing in a young feral cat to live inside my enclosed cat run. This cat would have access to the run and the coop, in hopes it will reduce the rodent population. Hopefully keeping it inside their enclosure would negate its ability to kill the wildlife that live on my property. I'm thinking that if a get a young feral and it becomes accustomed to the chickens, it will not harm them. My run is approx 300 square feet and has a separate enclosed area (approx 60 sq.ft) that I can use as the "cat house" when I open the run up for free-range access. I'm wondering if anyone has experience housing a feral cat inside their chicken enclosure for rodent control.

Not a good idea. Cats will kill rabbits, squirrels and other game. No doubt they will kill chickens, if they are smaller types....

 

[McChooky]

I have kept (and am keeping) a feral cat (kitten) in my chicken coop. I put out feed for it after the hens have gone to bed, otherwise they’ll eat the cat’s food. Kitty has never tried to bother the full grown chickens (and vice versa).

Francine (feral) and Brianna (tame on her own terms)
View attachment 3993164 View attachment 3993165

Feeding cats 12 hrs apart prevents acidic stomach.I keep a bowl of dry cat food out at all times in my enclosures. They also get wet food 2 x a day(more in cold weather)

 

[Evadig]

Feeding cats 12 hrs apart prevents acidic stomach.I keep a bowl of dry cat food out at all times in my enclosures. They also get wet food 2 x a day(more in cold weather)

Well, right now, someone left the chicken door open and she got out. I have the live trap set...
But I'll remember this if I ever catch her again.

 

[Evadig]

Well, right now, someone left the chicken door open and she got out. I have the live trap set...
But I'll remember this if I ever catch her again.

She didn't come back...yet. I took the bait out just now 'cause I don't want to be catching skunks. She might be hunkered down under the other coop (it's raining) or maybe went back to the place she came from. I'll set the trap for the next day or two, but I'm thinking it's farewell to Francine for good.

 

[McChooky]

None of my "indoor only" cats will use the catio I recently built on my patio .Once they realized its not got a pet door connected to the house they refuse to go out there.Sorry your kitty ran away!

 

[Evadig]

None of my "indoor only" cats will use the catio I recently built on my patio .Once they realized its not got a pet door connected to the house they refuse to go out there.Sorry your kitty ran away!

Never mind, she’s back - trying to get into the chicken coop this morning but too scared to go around where the door is.
I have the trap set with canned food again.

It’s so frustrating none of your cats want to use the new catio!