Raising Chicks with a kitten

[hydechicks]

Has anyone tried to raise their chicks with a barn kitten, we were hoping they wold grow together into a great flock and a protective cat?

 

[Chickadee55]

I have a kitten that I plan to raise with my chicks. She won't be much of a protector...she's a scardy cat. But I'm more worried about the older cat stealing young birds at least until I get a roo. I'll just have to be really vigilant while they are little.

 

[Pele]

Cats are naturally only protective of themselves and their kittens for a month or so. (yes there are rare exceptions, but realistically, it's a cat)

If you are looking for a natural protector of the flock, get a rooster. Even dogs might harrass and kill your flock since humans are not the only critters who think chickens taste delicious.

Hope that helps!

 

[hippiehen]

I had a duckling raised by a barn cat with her kittens... But after that everyone went their separate ways. Cats don't really give a hoot about anyone else lol.

 

[Bi0s]

i got 4 barn cats they hang out in the barn around the coop etc no problems

 

[SouthCityChicken]

This is good news. I have a "barn cat" rescue that I was a little concerned about swiping baby chicks. He has brought me a lot of baby bunnies over the years. Maybe if the "presents" are already in the house, he won't try to bring them to me?

 

[youngbiddy]

Quote:
Those aren't gifts, they're warnings.
http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

 

[healingtreeharp]

LMAO that is a great link! Thanks for posting that

 

[purelypoultry]

HaHa! that link was great.

As to the OP's question, cats have been raised in barns with chickens and etc for a long time. Now, some are going to be inerested in tthe birds, not so much as the birds grow bigger. they aren't going to be necessarily protection for the flock.

 

[SouthCityChicken]

That was a funny link!

Bad Cat lives purely on instinct and is only half domesticated. As of late though, he's getting fat and lazy, so maybe he's 3/4 of the way there now. He used to want to roam the neighborhood all the time to bring me presents/warnings, but most of the time now he just lays in the front window making crazy noises at the robins. So maybe once the chickadees are bigger than a robin he'll lose interest. Until then, just in case, I'll make sure the brooder is kitty-proof!