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

[McChooky]

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!

2 outside cats love it but the inside cats won't lol

 

[Love Donkeys]

I move my broody chicks and their eggs into a brooder inside a separate building. They don't move out to the coop until they are at least 7-8 weeks old and, even then, they have "mom" to protect them.

I agree on your plan for chick safety!
Our barn cats coexist with our free-range chickens but I would never trust them with chicks...

They all love leftovers!

 

[Etiene]

Where would you get feral cats?

 

[Love Donkeys]

Where would you get feral cats?

Feral cats or sometimes called "un-housed" cats can be found at your local animal shelter. Let them know you are looking for an outside cat that will accept some human contact, food and water....

Bring photos of your cat run, where the cats will stay and what you trying to do. I'm pretty sure the will be a charge in adopting a outside cat....

 

[Panamom]

I have 7 month old kittens in my chicken run, which is now rodent free. The kittens lived in the same zone as the coop & run and everyone got to acclimate & adjust under my supervision. The chickens were already used to outdoor cats too, so it was more to ensure the kittens weren't going to be a danger to the chickens. They all get along fine.

Maybe a month or two ago, we built them a cat condo that has access into the chicken coop, and I lock up the kittens in their condo with coop/run access at night bc I'm scared they'll get eaten by bears, coyotes, bob cats, or mt lions.

I leave my feed out in the run, so I was askin' for the mice, I know. In that first week or 2 with giving the kittens coop access, dead mice were strewn about everywhere. Now, I haven't seen a single one!

The chickens don't get into the cat condo to eat their cat food or littler (or poop in there...) as the entrance's a foot off the ground with flaps/curtains over it. I don't think the chickens "get it," and tarps, curtains, anything that flaps scare them, so I don't think they'll try to get in lol. If they do, I'll adjust things, but there's been 0 attempt so far.

My animals have not needed meds, so that's not a concern. And if anyone ever needed meds, they'd be separated. Everyone goes out during the day, so they're not really in close quarters except for at night.

I would say that so far, it's working out great in my situation. Good luck to you!

Awesome!

 

[birdlady11]

You said, "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"

If that's the case and the cat run is separate but within the chicken run, during the day when rodents are sleeping, simply keep the cat in the cat run while the chickens have the chicken run to roam in. Both species will be able so see each other and the chickens will learn the cat can't reach them. Thus they will begin to feel safe around the cat. The novelty of being in such close proximity to the chickens will shortly wear off on the cat and he won't be so inclined to view them as either food or fun and will less likely chase them.

At night, after the chickens have gone to bed in the coop and the rodents come out to play, open the cat run so he has access to the chicken run. After dark the only thing moving in the run should be rodents and the cat will then be able to 'do his thing' without your worrying about him going after the chickens.

I hope that helps.

 

[Evadig]

You said, "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"

If that's the case and the cat run is separate but within the chicken run, during the day when rodents are sleeping, simply keep the cat in the cat run while the chickens have the chicken run to roam in. Both species will be able so see each other and the chickens will learn the cat can't reach them. Thus they will begin to feel safe around the cat. The novelty of being in such close proximity to the chickens will shortly wear off on the cat and he won't be so inclined to view them as either food or fun and will less likely chase them.

At night, after the chickens have gone to bed in the coop and the rodents come out to play, open the cat run so he has access to the chicken run. After dark the only thing moving in the run should be rodents and the cat will then be able to 'do his thing' without your worrying about him going after the chickens.

I hope that helps.

I do this - it keeps the chickens out of the cat food and the cat in the run when I let the chickens out.

 

[Beesang]

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.

 

[Beesang]

Unluckily ended up with 4/4 male keats 2.5 years ago. Two survived, only one kills mice sporadically. That one (I swear) spits feed on the ground at the Temu treadle feeder. The cheap but sturdy small treadle worked great discouraging lazy mice when the neatnik was the lone occupant. (If I could afford it I’d get the “real” USA treadle.)
These mice burrow under the sled. If it was a permanent run I’d bury hardware cloth at depth. Neighborhood cats nab the ones that emerge. These aggressive male birds would likely do cats in. My old German Shepherd was justifiably terrified of them. The messy bird has even challenged does with fawns.
My 90-yr old dad is disgusted that I refuse to use the obvious solution, but… Which is why my search brought me here.

 

[McChooky]

There's an upside and a downside. Some parasite treatments used on chickens and coops are toxic to cats. Research products before using