Stray cat

[Aw4842]

There has been a stray cat that has wondered here (38 acres probably dropped off). NONE of my chickens bother her. When I give them treats, she eats with them and everything is great. Is the reason Mr. Roo attacked my dog due do testosterone maybe? The cat is a female. Im so lost right now. My first set (5 hens) I've had for 3 years. The 4 months old I hatched on my own.

 

[wrathsfarm]

The cat will make a great mouser if it likes your birds. Hard telling with your roo, but I'm guessing he sees the dog as a threat to his girls. Keep him at bay for the time being and do some soft introductions with supervision. He'll get used to the dog eventually.

 

[Aw4842]

The cat will make a great mouser if it likes your birds. Hard telling with your roo, but I'm guessing he sees the dog as a threat to his girls. Keep him at bay for the time being and do some soft introductions with supervision. He'll get used to the dog eventually.

The babies (1 hen and 1 Mr Roo lol) were all in the house together for 8 weeks. My dog would go up to their playpen and roo would look up and ignore him. Kept eating. When he attacked my dog, Toby (dog-10 yrs old) was about 15-20 ft away just laying in the grass watching me and Roo was laying just about next to cat and flew all the way to Toby and just attacked. Poor Toby tried attacking 1 hen when we first bought them. He got in BIG trouble and hasn't bothered 1 since. So when Roo got him, Toby didn't know what to do. Poor baby. So now, when Toby goes out I see what side of house babies are and let him out other side. I seriously think it's hormones. My other 2 roosters (died protecting) were a year old when I got them and was great with everyone and every animal. Its crazy.

 

[Pukkits]

I'm guessing this roo is just dog aggressive, seeing Toby as a predator. I'm sorry your trained pup keeps getting attacked. I'm not sure there is a way to train a roo to stop attacking dogs. If it were me and my birds free ranged, I'd consider a dog run for Toby's outside time, chain link maybe. Not for Toby's behavior, but so Toby can not get attacked doing his business.

As to the cat, I'd consider making it family! The only time I've been wary of cats is if you have chicks with the flock. While you'll need to protect any cat food from your chickens (they love it, but it's not usually made in such a way we'd want our layers to eat it) as well as from pests like raccoons, providing food and shelter will encourage kitty to stay. We have a feral that showed up a few years ago. We have a love/hate relationship. I love her, she hates me. Seriously, if she had the dexterity, she'd flip me the middle toe bean. But, she's not above glaring at me until I provide a bowl of food. We are still rebuilding trust after we trapped her for TNR (spay and vaccines) because her milkshake was bringing all the boys to the yard. She has a heated kitty bed in a shelter we plug in in winter, and I make sure she has water access in summer. I wish she'd stay here all the time, but I think she's been at the neighbors. She has been super helpful with mice. I fantasize about petting her one day, but I doubt it will happen. Hopefully your new friend can see you are worthy of trust.

 

[Aw4842]

I'm guessing this roo is just dog aggressive, seeing Toby as a predator. I'm sorry your trained pup keeps getting attacked. I'm not sure there is a way to train a roo to stop attacking dogs. If it were me and my birds free ranged, I'd consider a dog run for Toby's outside time, chain link maybe. Not for Toby's behavior, but so Toby can not get attacked doing his business.

As to the cat, I'd consider making it family! The only time I've been wary of cats is if you have chicks with the flock. While you'll need to protect any cat food from your chickens (they love it, but it's not usually made in such a way we'd want our layers to eat it) as well as from pests like raccoons, providing food and shelter will encourage kitty to stay. We have a feral that showed up a few years ago. We have a love/hate relationship. I love her, she hates me. Seriously, if she had the dexterity, she'd flip me the middle toe bean. But, she's not above glaring at me until I provide a bowl of food. We are still rebuilding trust after we trapped her for TNR (spay and vaccines) because her milkshake was bringing all the boys to the yard. She has a heated kitty bed in a shelter we plug in in winter, and I make sure she has water access in summer. I wish she'd stay here all the time, but I think she's been at the neighbors. She has been super helpful with mice. I fantasize about petting her one day, but I doubt it will happen. Hopefully your new friend can see you are worthy of trust.

Thanks for the reply. I have a house cat now. They're both females and Toby doesn't like the outside 1. Now, my next dilemma lol. I have 5 big girls (I have names for them all lol). They're 2-3 yrs. Then I have Princess (13 weeks Thursday) and (now his name) Mr. Roo McGoo (that's not what I always call him, but ill keep this G rated). This stray cat has had kittens. She's decided she trust us (even with Toby chasing her) so much that she's brought them here. Now, I have to see where Mr. McGoo is, the cat, and the kittens are before I can let Toby out. My God, I feel like I have an outside war going on. But, none of the chickens bother the babies. Now, my chicken question. I introduced the 2 babies to the other 5 for 2 1/2 weeks. The babies were in a huge kennel where the hens couldn't get to them and the babies couldn't grt out. When we let the girls out to free range during the day, we'd let the 2 out to roam the coop and learn it. After we let them out to mingle the hens immediately blocked princess in a corner (all 5) so I put the 2 back up for another week. Well, 1 day a few days later we went to put the 2 up to let the hens in and couldn't find Mr. McGoo. We looked for an hour and finally had to give up. 2 days later when I was down there, I felt a peck at my foot and it was him. He was starving and thirsty. I assume he was hiding from them even when they weren't in the coop. Now, he runs from the 5. They dont bother Princess only him. Why, will they ever be a flock, and what do I do? I've read up so much on chickens and learned so much, but raising a baby chick from egg up is new

 

[Aw4842]

Thanks for the reply. I have a house cat now. They're both females and Toby doesn't like the outside 1. Now, my next dilemma lol. I have 5 big girls (I have names for them all lol). They're 2-3 yrs. Then I have Princess (13 weeks Thursday) and (now his name) Mr. Roo McGoo (that's not what I always call him, but ill keep this G rated). This stray cat has had kittens. She's decided she trust us (even with Toby chasing her) so much that she's brought them here. Now, I have to see where Mr. McGoo is, the cat, and the kittens are before I can let Toby out. My God, I feel like I have an outside war going on. But, none of the chickens bother the babies. Now, my chicken question. I introduced the 2 babies to the other 5 for 2 1/2 weeks. The babies were in a huge kennel where the hens couldn't get to them and the babies couldn't grt out. When we let the girls out to free range during the day, we'd let the 2 out to roam the coop and learn it. After we let them out to mingle the hens immediately blocked princess in a corner (all 5) so I put the 2 back up for another week. Well, 1 day a few days later we went to put the 2 up to let the hens in and couldn't find Mr. McGoo. We looked for an hour and finally had to give up. 2 days later when I was down there, I felt a peck at my foot and it was him. He was starving and thirsty. I assume he was hiding from them even when they weren't in the coop. Now, he runs from the 5. They dont bother Princess only him. Why, will they ever be a flock, and what do I do? I've read up so much on chickens and learned so much, but raising a baby chick from egg up is new

Let me clear up the confusion of my message lol. My cat and stray cat are both females. My cat (buttercup) is a house cat but does go out from time to time. Next, Toby doesn't like the stray cat...which we call cat. My dilemma is when I let Toby outside, I have to go around to see where everyone is to keep cat and kittens safe and Toby safe. Now, Butthead hasn't went after him but that 1 time but why chance it, right? I think that was all that jumped around lol.
Angie

 

[Aw4842]

I'm guessing this roo is just dog aggressive, seeing Toby as a predator. I'm sorry your trained pup keeps getting attacked. I'm not sure there is a way to train a roo to stop attacking dogs. If it were me and my birds free ranged, I'd consider a dog run for Toby's outside time, chain link maybe. Not for Toby's behavior, but so Toby can not get attacked doing his business.

As to the cat, I'd consider making it family! The only time I've been wary of cats is if you have chicks with the flock. While you'll need to protect any cat food from your chickens (they love it, but it's not usually made in such a way we'd want our layers to eat it) as well as from pests like raccoons, providing food and shelter will encourage kitty to stay. We have a feral that showed up a few years ago. We have a love/hate relationship. I love her, she hates me. Seriously, if she had the dexterity, she'd flip me the middle toe bean. But, she's not above glaring at me until I provide a bowl of food. We are still rebuilding trust after we trapped her for TNR (spay and vaccines) because her milkshake was bringing all the boys to the yard. She has a heated kitty bed in a shelter we plug in in winter, and I make sure she has water access in summer. I wish she'd stay here all the time, but I think she's been at the neighbors. She has been super helpful with mice. I fantasize about petting her one day, but I doubt it will happen. Hopefully your new friend can see you are worthy of trust.

Also, Pukkis, Mr. McGoo (roo) is starting to side step, trying to run towards me but I hold my ground and he walks away. Now. He does run beside when im walking somewhere but trust me I have my guard up and I always have a cane in between us. I've read several things up on that. And he'll jump on the swing with me when im outside swinging. So, im confused about his bi-polar butt too.

 

[Pukkits]

To try to respond in order so I don't forget anything:

All of our hens have names, because they all have their own personalities. I do get some of the same colored ones mixed up, as two of the lavender orpingtons look very alike (Violet and Peony) and three of the chocolate orpingtons grew to look more alike (Theo, Cookie and Biscuit). Calling them by their names isn't weird to me.



Mature hens may take longer to accept a young rooster, especially if they feel he has poor manners. It sounds like they are starting to accept Princess, which is great. For Mr. Roo they may need more time. Hopefully they will stop running him off so he can get some food and water and the safety of the coop at night.



Mr. Roo's behavior toward you: he could be aggressive, or he could be courting you. I can't tell from your description, it could be either. My friend's rooster Elvis used to stalk me across the yard and go for my legs with his spurs. My parents had a rooster, Fred, that would escape the coop and look in house windows until he found me, crow until I came outside, then walk next to me, offering me little bits of this and that, chirring, trying to lead me back to the coop where I belonged with him. The difference is body language. I don't have good advice on how to gentle Mr. Roo if he's being aggressive. I have a low tolerance for aggressive roosters, as I still carry a scar from Elvis. If you are looking to gentle Mr. Roo, I'd suggest making a post about options.



As to Cat and her Kittens: I see you have a Trojan Kitty (a friendly cat that was hiding more cats). If it were me, I'd start looking for some help. A lot of the US and Canada has cat rescues that are happy to help in that situation. They will come out and live trap Cat and her Littles. Cat will be spayed, as will her kittens, helping to stop the cycle of feral cats (which is great for cat quality of life and local wildlife). Outside kittens get sick easily, so its safer for them. Feral kittens are easier to domesticate while young. Most rescues will place the little family in a foster home until the kittens are weaned, then mom and babies will be adopted out. You won't have to worry about looking for cats outside before letting Toby out, and the cats will all go to homes. I'd do an internet search for local cat rescues and make some calls.