Quote:
If my chickens see a large bird they completely disappear, like totally disappear. Disguise the coop, pick up their poop, grab the cats and are just gone. The silence is eerie. Usually under the deck. They must have xray vision and can see through the deck, because they don't come back out till the raptors are long gone. I have lots of shrubs as well.
It's no certainty that they will be safe, but places to hide are a good thing.
It would be a slim chance that your cat would be a danger to full grown LF. My hens run ferals,strays, and pet cats off their food. It is occasionally posted that a cat attacked, but rare that it was witnessed.
Russ
Thought I was going to have to eat my words.
Last night my RIR didn't go to bed at dark like usual. The only odd thing, in the yard, was 2 of the chairs on the deck were knocked over. The only predator I've ever seen in the afternoon/evening was Eagles flying over, so I was thinking one managed to grab one on the deck. I just have a yard so I searched by flashlight, every tree, bush, bldg and square inch of the yard, and then the neighbors as well. No sign of her. Went to bed with a heavy heart. The only glimmer of hope was that the remaining 3 were not freaked. I have a family of raccoons that terrorize my pond almost every night, so I was worried that even if an eagle hadn't got her that they would or the new little possum that comes to clean out the cat dishes. Although neither the raccoons or possum have ever shown any interest in the chickens.
Well she showed back up this morning gloating to the others that she did not have to wait for me to open the gate.
She likes to sit on eggs, but is not broody, so tonight I'll be spying to see if she trying to set up housekeeping elsewhere.
Russ