- Feb 27, 2014
- 25
- 16
- 99
I have to say I didn't know quite where to put this. It's less than a question, more than an observation. But here goes.
I have two hens, ages unknown, a RIR and a silver-laced Wyandotte. Both have just started laying after a two month hiatus while they moulted and got over the winter sulks.
I also have a cat. Well, I have four cats, but only one who counts for this story. She is a rescue, not super tame, and intended to be a barn cat but we know how that goes. Her name is Morag. She was about six months old when she came to us and full of fun and energy, and she thought the chickens were toys invented just for her. She didn't try to catch them, but she would lurk and go pouncy pouncy, and they would squawk and flap, and that was soooo much fun.
Then one day she decided to follow the RIR hen into the coop. A few moments later there was a blood-curdling screech-squawk-flap and Miss Morag came out of that coop like she'd been shot from a cannon. Red stomped out, snaking her head and mantling like a hawk, uttered a few remarks (rude, I'm sure), and went about her business. Morag has stayed well away from the hens since then -- wise kitty!
Except it got cold. Really cold. And our coop has these nice laying boxes, lined with straw, just the right shape and size to keep a little cat very cozy on a nasty rainy snowy icky day.
They seem to have worked it out. Morag snoozes in one of the six laying boxes. The girls use one of the other boxes to lay, unless Morag is off on cat business. Then they use her box, and Morag ... ummm ... seems to be brooding their eggs. We don't have a rooster, so I collect the eggs, which Morag keeps from freezing.
And the lion shall lay down with the chook.
I do shut her out of the coop at night. No sense asking for trouble.
I have two hens, ages unknown, a RIR and a silver-laced Wyandotte. Both have just started laying after a two month hiatus while they moulted and got over the winter sulks.
I also have a cat. Well, I have four cats, but only one who counts for this story. She is a rescue, not super tame, and intended to be a barn cat but we know how that goes. Her name is Morag. She was about six months old when she came to us and full of fun and energy, and she thought the chickens were toys invented just for her. She didn't try to catch them, but she would lurk and go pouncy pouncy, and they would squawk and flap, and that was soooo much fun.
Then one day she decided to follow the RIR hen into the coop. A few moments later there was a blood-curdling screech-squawk-flap and Miss Morag came out of that coop like she'd been shot from a cannon. Red stomped out, snaking her head and mantling like a hawk, uttered a few remarks (rude, I'm sure), and went about her business. Morag has stayed well away from the hens since then -- wise kitty!
Except it got cold. Really cold. And our coop has these nice laying boxes, lined with straw, just the right shape and size to keep a little cat very cozy on a nasty rainy snowy icky day.
They seem to have worked it out. Morag snoozes in one of the six laying boxes. The girls use one of the other boxes to lay, unless Morag is off on cat business. Then they use her box, and Morag ... ummm ... seems to be brooding their eggs. We don't have a rooster, so I collect the eggs, which Morag keeps from freezing.
And the lion shall lay down with the chook.
