Noob - new chicks and cats

[naadarien]

So we picked up a bunch of chicks today: 20 Golden Comets, 5 PBRs. They are the most adorable things. For now, they are safely ensconced in a plastic pool doubling as their brooder.

In about 4 weeks, when they are ready to go outside though it has just occurred to me that we have a few cats that are outdoors in the summer and one in particular who is a serious predator. Let's just say that we had dozens of blue jays when we moved in 6 years ago, and haven't had a one in 5 years until this spring. That along with the numerous rodent carcasses she leaves scattered throughout my garden (my bulbs thank her), makes me wonder how I am going to manage that relationship.

Can my young pullets-in-the-making handle themselves against my wee feline warrior or am I going to have to lock her up inside for the summer?

This is only the first day. I am sure I will have tons more questions as time goes by. Please bear with me...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...

In about 4 weeks, when they are ready to go outside though it has just occurred to me that we have a few cats that are outdoors in the summer and one in particular who is a serious predator. Let's just say that we had dozens of blue jays when we moved in 6 years ago, and haven't had a one in 5 years until this spring....

Welcome to the site and ask away.
Yes, they can be serious chicken predators but not as much for full grown chickens.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/261440/the-worst-predator

I know it wasn't your question and you can take it with a grain of salt but your point is why IMHO cats belong indoors. The bluejays aren't the only birds disappearing. They are, after all, invasive species.

 

[naadarien]

Thanks. I will probably keep an eye on her. I am not keen on letting the chickens roam yet anyway because we have coyote and fox, and yes they can be (and often are) active during the day. The cats know to stay within the dogs's perimeter, but the chickens will likely have to learn that. I had assumed we'd start them in the run first, and take some trial runs at roaming (until we both feel comfortable). Lizzie could stay in the house while they are younger. Not a problem. She's a smart cat. If she got peck decently hard a few times, I'm guessing she'd move on to easier pastures.

As for the Smithsonian's study, meh. We, people, are an invasive specie. We kill far more animals and corollary life forms than any other. Nature has a vast ability to adapt and move forward. Species go extinct without anyone's notice and even against our best efforts. My Lizzie is a rescue (I do a fair amount of that). She was raised out of doors by an old man who fell ill and I took her in. She is a hunter because that is how she survived with him. I cannot undo her conditioning. She will not cause the extinction of any specie on her own. My hope is that people will see the Smithsonian's study as a reason to manage feral populations and support trap & neuter programs. Not only will that keep feral populations in check, it will add balance to environments that are, potentially, out of balance in part because of them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I fully agree, humans are the root of the problem. WAAAY too many of us for the planet.
(but wherever they go, don't they bring their cats?)

 

[naadarien]

And dogs...and kids...and stuff... yep.

I'm not of the mind that the world is overpopulated. When I see a more even distribution of resources and power across a broad spectrum of humanity over several generations, and if we are then short of the necessities of life, then I'd probably agree with you. But as it stands now, the many who die and go without do so because someone/something (a government,a militia) is keeping resources from them, but that is a whole other topic...

 

[ILikeChicken]

my cat is scared of birds, no joke she went after the wrong baby blue jay a few summers ago, momma jay and about 10 other birds attacked my cat it was the funniest thing I seen since a hawk/other big *** bird snatched a squirrel off my fence post, since then, she wont go near anything with wings. including my chickens.

 

[naadarien]

Awwww...poor, traumatized kitty. That is a riot though. I have a couple who are afraid of their own shadow too. They'd never hurt a thing either. They will likely be scared of the chickens and give them a very wide berth. It is just that one or two that are feral (or were until I got em) or are pretty darn close. They get along with me but their world is otherwise like National Geographic.

I have had birds before but it is pretty obvious a cockatiel is no match for most cats. :-D A chicken is a different thing though. If they can stand their ground against a cat, I'm good.

 

[bowen012]

My wife use to rescue cats and has about 9 (12 at one point, but they've aged and died and we no longer get cats). Fat, lazy things really although they'll occasionally drag a squirrel or bird in. Last year we had a few chickens (2/3 ended up being roosters we re-homed, 1 was a respiratory disease carrier who went to live with other respiratory disease carrier chickens). We let them range the yard and they trained our cats better than we ever could have by way of administering justice. Likely due to the fact that we had a pair of roosters (1 terribly cocky Leghorn, 1 giant brahma), but they terrorized the cats to the point of bullying them and stealing their food. I hope they remember the old chickens as I let my new flock free range this summer.

 

[charlindabob]

I just lost 4 Delaware chicks to a cat. Not my cat ( I haven't any) but a neighbors cat. It's not that I really dislike cats, but I haven't any and I have to put up with the neighbors cats (at least a dozen from varying neighbors) and now one went through my top netting and took four chicks. FWIW, cats kill for the fun of it and they kill more songbirds and other native small animals than any other predator animal and they do it for fun, most never eat their catch. IMO cats belong inside and/or on YOUR property, not mine.

 

[donrae]

Baby chicks are at the bottom of the food chain. You'll have to protect them until they're grown size, around 4 months or so. Even then they may not have the confidence to stand up for themselves to a determined cat. Now, if you could find a broody hen to whip that cat a time or two

I have hunting barn cats and haven't lost a bird to a cat, but my birds are contained.