Understanding Chicken Math

[CollegeChicken]

my cat kills birds in the yard but doesnt bother my adult chickens. I think he would definitely eat a baby chick though. Sometimes people learn the hard way the proper way to protect your birds. In addition although being outside is nice for them, keep them indoors for a week or so with the proper environment ( heat lamp , etc ) before putting them outside that way you can monitor them and they can build some size and strength

 

[Bethel3330]

So my husband is building us a chicken coop as we speak and he keeps saying "well if you get more all we have to do is this"....... IF! LOL!

Sounds like my DH, and guess who was encouraging me to get more last weekend? We went to a swap looking for two and brought home 7!

 

[Bethel3330]

Sorry to hear about the chicks. My cat stalks my teenagers. I'm hoping he gets too close and the rooster gets after him. Either that or that he not be around them at all. He's definitely interested but I'm hoping he'd rather stalk the wild birds.

 

[artsygirl]

Depends on the size usually, my friend had her chickens out and they chased her cat and the cat doesn't want anything to do with them now. If they are big full grow the cat might think twice. Also they might show the cat who's boss.

 

[DBerryhill]

I have 3 cats...that were well trained by my first batch of hens. I kept them secure in the run we built for the first year prior to free ranging while I worked on teaching the dogs to be chicken friendly. When I opened the run to let the chickens out one of my cats slipped in...and went to investigate the coop. That cat came out of the coop with fur flying...and one of my BR hens hot on his tail wings flapping. Another of my cats was chased by a wild turkey and steers very clear of my chickens. Full grown chickens I don't worry about with domestic cats so much...but I would definitely keep them protected until they are full grown and the cats learn to leave them be.

 

[Bethel3330]

Lol @DBerryhill I just had a visual on that!
I have a protective adult roo (my avatar) and 6 9-12 week olds. My BAs are quite large. We're getting there!
We only let them out when someone is outside or on a nice day when I have windows open so I can hear them etc

 

[DBerryhill]

@Bethel3330 I'm sure your kitty will get a lesson eventually especially with that roo!

 

[Bethel3330]

@Bethel3330 I'm sure your kitty will get a lesson eventually especially with that roo!

Lol I'm sure he will! Keeping fingers crossed that no chickens get hurt. There's practically a stampede in the evening when we let them out so I hate to have to keep them locked up.

 

[DBerryhill]

And on the subject of chicken math, I am happy to announce that I have officially competed my coop extension single handedly today and moved in the new residents. I now have a coop that will house 35 birds. I had to go to the feed store today to buy a few hinges and whatnot for finishing touches...and I figured I had room for 4 more in the coop. ( I don't make trips there unless I plan to buy chicks- I know I will never make it out without some) Alas...no more chicks. The feed store is safe again. I don't know if I'm happy or sad. Happy I think...because I want some dorkings. Yes...now to find four dorkings to fill up the roosts!

 

[Gingersnap722]

I'm gutted about it. All that effort just to feed the neighbors cat! They were fenced in but it was open at the top which was no problem for the cat to jump over. I'm never leaving these new ones outside unattended! Can cat's kill fully grown chickens? I was hoping to let them roam free in the garden during the day.

Hi, we have many stray cats around us and none have ever bothered our fully grown chickens.