What about a cat?

[aidenbaby]

I thought about getting 1 goose to act as "guard dog". I think Hubby would nix the idea as I'm already over his set limit.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Again, depends on the cat. My cat weighs 2 1/2 lbs. She's a former feral. We've seen her trying to attack the chickens before - that's why she's indoors when the chooks are out. My chickens run in terror. She brings home full grown rabbits, birds, squirrels and once a rat that was so big it's entire body including tail was twice as long as the cat.

 

[Tala]

My cats watch intently, and playfully bat at the chicks with their claws still safely tucked away, then go to sleep close to the brooder because it's warm.

However they kill wild birds occasionally and I don't trust them around the babies. My chickies will be ranging in a tractor that is hopefully quite secure.

I used to have outdoor only cats who killed birds, rabbits, squirrels, moles, small snakes, you name it - so feral or outdoor cats I would be even more afraid of for small chicks.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I have 4 cats, and they are tame outside cats. They have yet to do any harm to my chicks, and are actually affraid of them and will run when i let them loose in the yard. One day one of my cats was eating out the food dish outside and one of my chickens came slowly walking up and pecked him on the rear end and that cat did a 3-60 in the air and ran for his life, I laughed until I almost peed my pants and now that cat stays completely away from them now.

I would still be very carefull about letting them that young roam free, I would maybe suggest and something I've done too is......make a wood framed box shaped and put chicken wire all around it with no bottom so it's easily move-able and put them out in the yard in that, so they can dust bathe and get a feel for the outdoors and they are protected in the wire box. Does that make sence? It has always worked for me. Good luck!!!

 

[stir-fry]

our biy is almost a year, and he got snipped last month and turned into a kitten again after that, every morning we wake up and he is layin on the top of the brooder, wishin he could swat em, watch the kitty!

 

[Umbral_Necropolitan]

I've seen stray cats stalk and terrify my birds, (granted my roo is a coward) luckily my neighbor's dogs chases strays off.