How Do I Introduce My Cats to My Chickens?

[Imp]

TheIvoryKitty,

I think you will find that your cats will very quickly learn to leave the chickens alone. Be vigilant when you do first introduce them.

Here's a picture of my bird killer. She never messed with the chicks this last spring. Just slept with them under the heatlamp.

Imp

 

[jtbrown]

Our orange tabby "Gary" the cat got out of the house when we were free ranging, and the family all went scrambling to get him. He got away from us, but we hung out in the yard to watch out for the chickens.

He came out of the weeds and began stalking our Production red rooster. That is until . . . . Red the rooster started to stalk the cat. Gary freaked out, ran down the drive toward the other barn. We laughed so hard, the cat was never the one stalked before that day, and he didn't care for it.

From then on out, the cat hangs out with the birds, when he gets too close, they circle in and he takes off. When he is lounging, hanging out in the sun taking in the rays, some of the birds get curious and come in close for a look. We have bantums (which hang out with Brahmas) and full size birds, so the full size area really big compared to our skinny cat.

 

[JodyJo]

My 4 barn cats, have no issues with the chickens, but they are full grown...but even my little silkie is safe, they are fairly up front to the cats...no one ever gets close to a hen, without one getting a peck from another...they even eat from the same dishes! The cats all keep their distance...the chickens seem to enjoy tormenting them actually!

I wouldn't put new chicks or young chickens with a full grown cat though...

 

[TheIvoryKitty]

Quote:

I don't know why but that really cracked me up, Lol! I can just see it so clearly!

Oh, and Imp - that picture of your kitty is absolutely devilish! I love it so much! At first I thought.. "Wait... what cat?" and then there it is all creepy in the corner like a little demon. Adorable!

JodyJo it looks like your kitty gets along very happily with the chickens, though it looks like there's a little glint of "I'll eat you one day!" in it's eyes.

Such adorable pictures! I'm so glad I asked the question! lol!

 

[mlward]

We live in a rural area bordering woods and have several cats, all strays and feral rescues. None of them, even the brand new arrivals, seem to bother any of the chickens or ducks. Maybe because they saw all the babies being hatched and brooded in the house before being moved outside. I'm not sure, but we've never had problem. And our cats kill EVERYTHING outside; mice, snakes, bird, bunnies... but never our poultry. If anything, they lay right in the yard amongst them and seem to keep watch.

 

[TheIvoryKitty]

Quote:
That's reassuring

 

[CrystalAnon]

This would be my cat… so until they’re bigger than what she thinks she could have for lunch, I’m not going to be introducing them.
They’ll have to get the introduction once they’re out in the coop & run, where she can’t get them. Bee is an older cat… will be 15 in March, but she’s still very much a hunter. She catches lizards here everyday… would love to get a bird, if she could get her claws on them. She even stalks squirrels, but they’re too fast for her. She’s too old to learn new tricks or make new friends, I’m afraid.

 

[CrystalAnon]

This would be my cat… so until they’re bigger than what she thinks she could have for lunch, I’m not going to be introducing them.
They’ll have to get the introduction once they’re out in the coop & run, where she can’t get them. Bee is an older cat… will be 15 in March, but she’s still very much a hunter. She catches lizards here everyday… would love to get a bird, if she could get her claws on them. She even stalks squirrels, but they’re too fast for her. She’s too old to learn new tricks or make new friends, I’m afraid.

I must admit, I was completely wrong on this! I thought my cat was a stone-cold killer.
I introduced Bee (our kitty) to the chicks. Surprisingly, she looked kinda scared of them! She was purring in my arms before she saw them. Then she stopped purring & my husband said her pupils dilated, a lot. Then she jumped off the dresser I put her on, to the grill we have in the storage room... and ran out! Awesome!
I was really shocked by her response to seeing them, until I saw how the pea hens in our neighborhood treat Bee. They run at her when they see her. Probably to intimidate her for when they have chicks.
So I think that might have had something to do with her reaction to the chicks.
So funny!
Anyone else have experience with pea hens intimidating cats on purpose?