just wanted to see what you all do about cats

[hunter109]

well we have around 15 barn cats i was going to see what you guys do for cats that try and kill your chickens well thats it and i am planning to have them free range but if not i can get some fence in to make a place for them to get out and do there thing with out haveing to worrie about the cats getting them

 

[panner123]

As a general rule, a cat will not bother a full size chicken. If they are attacked by a rooster once or twice, they will stay as far away as possible. A banty or a chick is a whole different ball game.

 

[debtrag]

I agree a cat won't bother a full sized chicken. We have 13+ feral and tame cats and they have never bothered my chickens, they even sleep in the chicken layer boxes at times. They keep the mice and rat population in control. Now for chicks, I wouldn't trust them (the cats) at all. You need to keep chicks protected, period, even with a protective hen or rooster. They can't guard them all.

 

[andalusn]

I have a house cat that watches the peeps when they are new and inside.. does nothing...

Our other cat is a huge hunter and has been known to beat up a dog or two just for kicks... she leaves the chickens alone.. I have a Cochin hen that really likes to get close to her for a good look and the cat gets all kinds of creeped out. This cat also leaves the peeps alone. So I guess it really depends on the cats and how feral they are. I have many feral cats in my very rural neighborhood and so far they all stay away from the broodys that free range with peeps and the ones free ranging around the farm.. big and little alike.

 

[Teach97]

if you can get a kitten and put it in with a hen that has chicks it seems to deter them from ever wanting to mess with a chick....folks do this with pigeon lofts. take a kitten let a pigeon sitting on a nest whack it with their wing andd the kitten seems to not want anything to do with said birds...then the cat is a good mouse getting addition

 

[welasharon]

The only cats I had a problem with are the inside ones when they went outside. I sat with the water hose and every time the cat would crouch low and start to move toward them I squirted them with water. I did this with each cat, one at a time, several times. Only one gave me a problem after that and then a feral rooster took up here and he took care of the training of that last cat.
sharon

 

[Judy]

I'm currently keeping my inside/outside cat in when the chickens are loose because he chases and frightens them. In the past a hen has pecked the cat and the cat would then not go near the chickens, but these chickens haven't done that for some reason. When I get the lurking cat and the garden hose together at just the right time, it won't be a problem any more.

I'm sure a cat would kill young chicks; so far I've managed to keep them apart.

 

[hunter109]

thanks guys and gals well i have two dogs to one that runs free and is the watch dog and the other one is on a chain i think i might just make them a pen to run around in out side so how high you think the pen should be to keep them in it

 

[19hhbelgian]

I dont even have trouble with my seramas free ranging and my cats. They are outside cats and hunt like crazy, but my birds scare the crap outta them

If my big rooster walks over all bets are off and my cats are out of the yard ASAP

My cats have even gone in the old butcher house where I keep the chicks, and they aren't an issue. Maybe I just have good cats

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

If you don't want them you can trap them and take them to a rescue or feral cat coalition. That's what we do here.