New here, and new to chickens

[rostato]

Ok, my name is Chris, I live Warner Robins, GA, and am the owner of 4 Araucana hens. They are about 5 months old now, and we got them a 2 day old chicks from the feed store.

We let them feather up in our garage and played with them alot while they were young, but now we don't get the interact much. And my questions relate to that...

We have about a 1/4 acre fully fenced back yard in a gated community with convenants against having poultry, but we have all hens, they are quiet, and we are willing to risk the convenant violation for fresh eggs, and pets for our daughter.

We wanted them to be able to free range around our backyard, but at about 7 weeks old when we allowed them to be in the backyard we had a neighborhood cat attempt to attack them.

So I build them a 4x6x2 cage that I move to a new spot in the yard everyday, but I fear that this is too small for them. They always seem very content, happy, and well fed, but I really want them to be able to roam free around the yard.

My question is are they old enough now to be let out of the cage for good? Will this cat be able to kill them? He will get into my yard anyway he can. I catch him in my yard taunting the chickens and playing with them through the cage all the time. I have attemted to block all his entry ways, but he keeps coming back.

I cannot go ask the neighbor to keep the cat in line, because I am not supposed to have chickens in the neighborhood.

What do you suggest?

Also when will my hens lay me some eggs?!!!!

 

[aussieheelr]

Well I think there is nothing wrong with having your neighbor contain their cat not just for reasons of your chickens lives but cats do tend to like to use anyone's yard as a cat box if they "free range." Granted I don't live in your comunity but every comunity I have lived in has a law against dogs and cats at large. Here Colorado is a fence in state meaning that cows can go where ever they can get to so long as they stay out of city limits and off highways. IE by law if my cows get into your cornfield across the street that didn't have a fence around it I could only be charged the going rate for the corn loss not for "animal at large."
So I would:
1. Check the animal/pet regulations that the city/county/state has for your area. They are the "real" laws you have to watch. Convictions here go on a record. Covenants are all Civil court not criminal so I kind of laugh at them anyway. The law enforcement don't get involved with "you can't paint your house that color" stuff.
2. Check the covenants for the pet regulations. There could very well be something in there about owners containing their cats.
3. Once educated invite your neighbor over for tea/BBQ/flag football or whatever and drop it into conversation casually and see if you could come to an agreement. It's always better to solve a problem together before bringing outsiders in and best with out threats. They may not be aware that the cat is causing an issue. If it weren't the chickens maybe you were allergic to cats and it caused a problem that way. It is usually just best that animals stay at their own house for more than one reason.

 

[rostato]

Good idea, thanks. Only problem is that this doesnt stop some other cat from comin ginto the yard too.

Anyway, I just can't tell if its friendly play with them, or a hunt...

We live within City Limits too, and the guy that owns the cat is on the BOD, so I need to be a tactful as possible.

 

[gaduke]

 

[rostato]

Thanks!

 

[b.hromada]

Hi Chris!

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[eggsrcool]

from Suffolk, England

 

[rostato]

So how old are they when they begin to lay eggs? How often do they lay them, and when do they normally lay them? Morning, Afternoon?

Like I said we are total newbs to chickens!

We just started feeding them fruits and veggies to liven up their diets a little.

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome!!

I have 5 chickens in a fenced in yard and the neighbor has 2 cats that are outside a lot. I have an outdoor pen for them if they have to be "confined"....they have their (sleeping) coop, approx 4x4, elevated and going into the 4x8 pen. Pen is not quite 5' tall and has a PVC roof and the sides are covered with plywood except one side and the frontwhere the wood is only 1/3 cover and the rest chickenwire. So they can get sun and air and move around if they can not run loose in the yard. I am planning the enclose the pen during winter, we are in WI. I did not let the chickens free roam in the yard without supervision until they were about 12 weeks old, too tempting for the cats. Now that they are quite large the cats avoid them. I have indoor cats and one of them sometimes follows me in the yard but does not stay out for more than a few minutes; he is quite intimidated by the chickens now and stays clear of them.
I was also worried because my backyard is on a stretch of conservancy and we have owls, hawks and occasionally coyotes back there. The coyotes can not get in/under/over the fence but the owls and the hawks can snatch a smaler chicken. Another reason why I decided not to get white/primarily white chickens - someone told me they are easy prey. If you can not be out with the chickens and/or keep the cats out I would wait for the free roaming until they are big. Hopefully some of the more experienced chickenkeepers can give you more input. Good luck with your chicks!!

 

[rostato]

Well they are rather large now. About 5 months old, if not more. I feel like anyday I will have eggs waiting for me in the morning, and get so didssapointed when I don;t see any!