neighborhood cat

[Layniep3]

Someone tried to steal my Easter Egger (the smallest adult in my flock) by dragging her through a hole in the fence. The hole is surprisingly small but there were several feathers on each side. I found her hiding and unscathed in a clump of bushes. I think it may have been a friendly neighborhood cat who got in over his head or ran off when I came outside screeching in panic. He is an avid chipmunk hunter and is also fed by multiple neighbors. Based on the size of his plump tummy he is clearly not going hungry. Removing him isn't an option but now I'm terrified to let them out of their pen to roam in the yard (which they LOVE). I only let them out when I'm home but that didn't deter him today. He has never tried this before. They have a large enclosed run but love to forage in the grass in the yard. Any suggestions on how to keep them safe even though the cat has to stay? Also, a rooster isn't an option either.

 

[sourland]

sling shot and monitored free ranging.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The hole is surprisingly small but there were several feathers on each side. I found her hiding and unscathed in a clump of bushes. I think it may have been a neighborhood cat who got in over his head or ran off when I came outside screeching in panic. Removing him isn't an option but now I'm terrified to let them out of their pen to roam in the yard (which they LOVE). I only let them out when I'm home but that didn't deter him.

Welcome to BYC!

Glad your bird is okay!

I would suspect possibly raccoon or something similar since you say "someone".. Was it just reaching through the fence to a bird relaxing inside? or did you see HOW it ran off or what part the bird was being held by? Most cats are out for the hunt.. and go after things moving faster than full grown chickens. It is possible it was a cat, despite not being probable, in my experience. Was the bush you found her inside your fence or the other side? What type of fence? Photo of the area? Everything loves chicken dinner, even skunk, opossum, rat. hawk, etc.

Consider adding your general location to your profile.. in instances like this it can help us make our most relevant suggestions possible at a glance.. things that might be predator or weather related, resources, or even perfection standard, etc.

 

[Layniep3]

Welcome to BYC!

Glad your bird is okay!

I would suspect possibly raccoon or something similar since you say "someone".. Was it just reaching through the fence to a bird relaxing inside? or did you see HOW it ran off or what part the bird was being held by? Most cats are out for the hunt.. and go after things moving faster than full grown chickens. It is possible it was a cat, despite not being probable, in my experience. Was the bush you found her inside your fence or the other side? What type of fence? Photo of the area? Everything loves chicken dinner, even skunk, opossum, rat. hawk, etc.

Consider adding your general location to your profile.. in instances like this it can help us make our most relevant suggestions possible at a glance.. things that might be predator or weather related, resources, or even perfection standard, etc.

It was during the day, they were roaming in the yard, and then I heard a terrible squawk. I ran outside and couldn't find her anywhere. I found a cluster of feathers and was then able to follow a path of feathers about 10 feet away to a gap in the 6 foot privacy fence. There were feathers on the other side of the gap, in the neighbor's yard. I didn't see any feathers stuck to the top of the fence so I'm assuming they went through instead of over. She was in the bushes in the neighbor's yard.

This cat is always roaming around my house but, while well fed and plump, I didn't think he was big enough to go after a full grown chicken (even if she is the smallest and most timid).

The first pic shows where she first got snatched. The second shows the initial spot then shows that she was taken to the nearby gap in the fence (circled in red). The third shows the feathers on my side of the fence. The fourth shows feathers on the other side of the (small) fence gap.