Will a barn cat kill my chickens?

[biddyboo]

Our three cats do not bother our hens. When we had chicks this spring, these were left alone too, maybe because of their protective adoptive Silkie mamas. It's funny, when the hens are free ranging n the late afternoon and come up by the house where the cats are waiting for their dinner (spoiled, yes), if the cats are on the grass or patio where the chickens come, the hens will run them off, stare them down, thoroughly intimidate our cats, both "house" and barn.

 

[bagendhens]

well weve got 1 cat whos an indoor outdoor that was raised around the chickens...she finds them interesting to watch but doesnt touch them...
our other cat was an indoor cat untill reacently (he started showing behavioural signs of boredom being an indoor only kitty) hes never seen the chickens before...
his first reaction, "oh my god, that things huge RUN AWAY" yup, hes terrified of them.

heck even our dogs...
theres jasper who thinks there a riot because they will chase him.
the rest of the dogs think the birds are terrifying because they will happily attack anyone that gets curious enough to put their nose too close! lol

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I worked at a farm, which shall remain nameless, in which there was a HUGE mouse infestation. Mice EVERYWHERE. Cats were EVERYWHERE. The cats were sick, feral, hated being near people...take your pick.

We were moving the older birds into the bigger pens from the brooder facility. One pullet fell from the cages. Take into consideration this was a Cochin, probably around 3-4 months old.

I reached down instantly but a cat was too fast and grabbed that bird and RAN into a tree where 4 others started eating it.


Yes...they CAN kill and eat your birds.

I had my own cat to help get rid of a rodent problem at my own property. She was housed in a rabbit hutch next to the birds and was beaten senseless by a broody with chicks.

She would sit and watch the chicks, let them run all over her and LOVED to curl up under broody hens in the coop. I trusted her completely with my birds. I never lost a single bird to her. Gosh I miss that cat...

 

[oldhen514]

My favorite banty hen "Penny" disappeared a couple of days ago. I searched and found a pile of feathers. Not knowing if a neighbors dog or hawk killed her I watched the next 2 days for a repeat performance by a varmint. The second evening I saw a huge stray cat stalking my chickens. I suspect that is what happened to Penny and it was coming back for another easy dinner. I only let my peeps out of the pen for an hour or so a day when I can keep any eye on them but missed the cat. If it continues to hang around I will trap it and then decide what to do with it. I live in a very small town (abt. 200 pop). I keep my animals up, cats inside and dogs in fenced yard but sadly to say not many others do the same. I have had at least 10 killed by dogs that are allowed to run free.

 

[Oregon Blues]

It might. Some cats kill chickens and some cats don't kill chickens.

 

[M@M@2four]

My barn cats could care less about my chickens...in fact they ignore the chicks too, which you'd think they'd try to eat! lol They are just interested in mice and other rodents! I

them!!

 

[featherz]

M@M@2four :

My barn cats could care less about my chickens...in fact they ignore the chicks too, which you'd think they'd try to eat! lol They are just interested in mice and other rodents! I

them!!

x2. My barn cats don't even bother day old chicks or younger chickens. They even seem to guard them at times. I often joke that I have 'livestock guardian cats'.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Yes, this is a good logical answer. Some cats do some don't kill chickens.

 

[boxermom]

My barn cats are afraid of the chickens. My declawed house cat tries to stalk them, but he never gets very far. We watched a young roo chase him off last week. Pretty funny.

The barn cats are pretty interested when I have chicks, but they can't get to them. When my broodies have clutches, the cats don't go near...

 

[Orchid]

I think if you raised the kitten(s) with your chickens, it probably would not bother them. We have a kitten right now who gives the chickens a wide berth - the chickens look at her like she could possibly be dinner. Yikes.

I will say that I had four adult cats when I first got my chickens and I kept the cats separated from them as chicks since the cats would definitely have killed them, but as adult chickens the cats could care less about them. One of my cats has killed some pretty big wildlife (rabbits, weasels) but he seems to understand that the chickens are off-limits as part of the barnyard family.