Is this a problem?

[Patoot]

Thanks for the reassurance!

Bree

 

[Patoot]

Well, the test didn't go well. Twice we tried to bring the cat over and twice she was so ticked she just tried to run away. Yesterday I got her to the backyard, but I have to go through my house to do it and she was hissing at me and scratching. I got to the back and she couldn't have cared less about the chickens and just ran away and hopped the fence back to her yard. Today we put her on a leash and she was just ticked about the leash. I brought her right up to the chickens and she just kept trying to run home. The owner was of little help. They are weird in general. Anyway, he is definitely of the mindset that it's not his responsibility to deal with his cat asked why I let the chickens out (Did they need exercise or something?). Dork. So when I took her off the leash, she just ran home again.

I'm hoping two unpleasant experiences in my backyard are enough to deter her. Plus it was clear the chickens are bigger than her when placed next to each other.

I don't know that I can get a good test. I think I'll just put up some wire fencing to deter her and lower her motivation for coming over, and then hope for the best with the assumption that she has little interest in pouncing them and now hates my yard.

Bree

 

[Annabella]

I had a siamese cat once, that was not a great hunter.
She wanted to come into the house once, and she was holding by the neck a dead 4 month old hen!!
I couldnt believe my eyes!! I NEVER expected that.

My current cat is terrified of the girls.

 

[WillieBoy]

My feral adopted cat doesn't mess with my hens, but she on the small side and the girls usaully stay together as a pack..I don't doubt a large tom cat can take out a large hen.I also have seen large cats kill wild rabbits.
I wouldn't be so sure that you don't have racoons around.Racoons thrieve in urban areas.As long as their are people and garbage cans, they are around.You may not see them, dead or alive near you,most likely they are there.
Yes, dogs are a good deterate, but a hungry coon can be a crafty critter.It's good that you lock your birds up tight and have a fortified coop..!

 

[minnie1]

I have the same setup with letting my girls go free when its daytime. A nieghbors cat will be out there lounging and watching the chickens in the morning lying against the cage like he is on guard duty, Then I let the girls out and the cat is gone till evening. I haven't seen it as a threat to the girls though. It seems more curious. But my own dog got ahold of one of my babies so I know I can't take any chances with the dogs getting at them. I haven't had other animals around to worry. The girls are smart enough that when they are loose they hang out on the edge of tree lines and in a clustered area of lilac bushes in my yard so most predators don't see them. They to enjoy hanging out in the flower gardens around our house, its protection for them too. But I do go out when the suns going down and close them in the fenced area with coop. They are all roosted up in their beds, But I'll take a head count and make sure I didn't lock something in there with them. Good luck with your girls.