my cats killed one of my chickens, what now?

[sourland]

I was wondering the same. I've never, ever had cats do anything like this, much less as a team and that's in many years of owning chickens and many farm cats along the way. I'm sure not saying it can't happen, don't get me wrong I don't mean it like that, it's just unusual.

Mothers teaching kittens or siblings 'learning' to hunt will sometimes work together.

 

[Summertime7921]

How mAny cats? How old? How old was the chicken? Did you see them kill her? Have you seen them stalk/ chase chickens before? I free range chickens and my cats plus neighbor cats, are around them all the time. The only time I've had cats stalk was with chicks, til a mama hen taught them better! It just seems very unusual to me, and I've never seen cats hunt together unless maybe it's a mom and kittens.

 

[AmericanMom]

Our chickens free range, when our cat has been near the run they all (chickens) line up on the fence line and just watch her, Roosters keep up a very low screech like call but hens are deadly silent.. Momma's do call their babies close... The one time we had the chickens out in the garden and the cat wondered out they surrounded her...Poor cat, I doubt she will ever forget that and stays clear of the chicken run.

That said, we have lost several chicks to cats when the chicks get through the chain link fence and away from the flock.

 

[donrae]

Our chickens free range, when our cat has been near the run they all (chickens) line up on the fence line and just watch her, Roosters keep up a very low screech like call but hens are deadly silent.. Momma's do call their babies close... The one time we had the chickens out in the garden and the cat wondered out they surrounded her...Poor cat, I doubt she will ever forget that and stays clear of the chicken run.

That said, we have lost several chicks to cats when the chicks get through the chain link fence and away from the flock.

My barn cats have been the bane of my chicken raising this year. My dog keeps everything else away, but not the cats. Darn things have a taste for pullets, too

I wouldn't mind if they took the cockerels, but no, it's got to be the pullets.

But, they do hunt alone. I've never seen them act as a pack. Cats or not, you'll need to have a secure run for your birds. No matter who took the bird, they'll be back for more.

 

[Happy Feathers]

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers, but in my experience cats hunt birds and they hunt alone. Cats normally will not attack anything bigger than they are, and will only fight a bigger animal if threatened.
Pet cats are responsible for millions of song bird deaths every year.
Keep your cats in the house - they'll get use to it. They don't need to be outside. Give 'em toys and perches near windows and a litter box and you'll be good to go!

 

[donrae]

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers, but in my experience cats hunt birds and they hunt alone. Cats normally will not attack anything bigger than they are, and will only fight a bigger animal if threatened.
Pet cats are responsible for millions of song bird deaths every year.
Keep your cats in the house - they'll get use to it. They don't need to be outside. Give 'em toys and perches near windows and a litter box and you'll be good to go!

The whole point of my cats it to hunt small critters, hence the term barn cats. I have hay and feed, things that traditionally draw mice. I have no problems with them....but I do have gophers in the garden this year. Wish I could get a cat to expand it's territory.

 

[notducky]

It was the cats, my bf saw them do it but couldn't reach her in time. They have stalked the chickens in the yard and I've tossed horse apples in their direction when I've caught them. To spook them not hurt them. In the last week the girls have been out unsupervised at least half the day, sometimes with the cats, and no problems. I don't know what got into them today, they attacked her in the run. Together. A place they have never gone before. They are part Maine coon and excellent mousers so I understand that cats will be cats, but after a lot of thought today I believe we'll be rehoming them.

 

[AmericanMom]

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers, but in my experience cats hunt birds and they hunt alone. Cats normally will not attack anything bigger than they are, and will only fight a bigger animal if threatened.
Pet cats are responsible for millions of song bird deaths every year.
Keep your cats in the house - they'll get use to it. They don't need to be outside. Give 'em toys and perches near windows and a litter box and you'll be good to go!

Not going to happen, Our daughter is allergic to the cat and I am not an animal house person.. Cat keeps the mouse population in check, If the Momma hen cannot protect the chicks then I wont use the momma hen again, a few losses is worth the benefit of the cat.

 

[AmericanMom]

The whole point of my cats it to hunt small critters, hence the term barn cats. I have hay and feed, things that traditionally draw mice. I have no problems with them....but I do have gophers in the garden this year. Wish I could get a cat to expand it's territory.

We once had a wonderful dog, Bear was a golden retriever/aussie mix... Never bothered the chickens but was a mole and gophers worse nightmare... I really miss our boy sometimes

 

[enola]

Cats can and will kill chickens. I lost 3 large fowl Araucana hens to a ferel male cat this spring. I caught him in the act. Two days later I caught him in a trap. He won't kill any more chickens........