Will cats kill chickens?

[1chicken fan]

Thanks Aschenfire!!!! appreiciate the response, Do you think 12 weeks is too early to let them free range, how do I get them back in the coop the first time I introduce them to the yard???

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yes, cats can easily kill a fully grown chicken by sinking its teeth into the neck, severing arteries...some cats enjoy this sport. Only you know your particular cat. If you can keep predators away from your chicks they can free range at any time

 

[Mattemma]

Well fed cats will omly kill during their play/hunt...Dogs are way more of a risk. My cats have gone close to the hens to see what they are,but a few pecks and they were done.Chicks need to be protected like all native birds....well except house sparrows.Those are free game.

If your cats kill a hen consider a cat enclosure instead of free roaming.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

What most people don't realize is just that cats are supposed to be contained...just like dogs. It's just not really apparent the damage they can do because it is mostly small game, and the young, like baby rabbits. But then, the ecosystem is pretty well damaged anyway and cats love their freedom don't they.

 

[canesisters]

My Punkinhead has been fascinated by the chickens since they first showed up as 2week olds. But it's not an aggressive thing at all, he just seems really entertained by them. When they were very little and I would put them in their 'play yard' outside, he would lay next to the cage, all sleepy and content looking, and just watch them.

Here he is the first night they moved out of the brooder in 'his' barn and into their coop.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

The cat is making up his mind on what to do, it has never seen a chicken before. I notice the chicks are secure behind hardwire. They are indeed entertaining the cat.

 

[dani0304]

Hi, if they are chicks it is possible, but if they are grown chickens they should be ok, I have small bantam hens and we have just put boards up against their cage and they are fine, I hope I have helped.
Thanks
Danielle

 

[featherz]

I think all these chicken killing cats must be REALLY hungry. I seem to be a dumping ground for stray cats as we have tons of them sneaking into my garage (we have a cat door for our barn cats) and not one has ever harmed a chicken. We have one mean little pullet who chases my poor barn cat around the yard every time she sees him. I have leghorns that will literally push the cat out of his food bowl, so I have to keep the garage door closed so he can eat.

 

[ChickiesInUtah]

The cat is making up his mind on what to do, it has never seen a chicken before.

Same here. I like watching the cat watch the chickens. I wish I could read his mind!

 

[canesisters]

The cat is making up his mind on what to do, it has never seen a chicken before.

Actually, prior to this photo, he has been with them almost every day for several weeks. Even when they were tiny he seemed more amused than anything else. He's never even gotten that intense 'look' that cats will get when they think they've spotted something they might want to pounce on. But he's always been like that. Just wandered out of the woods from no where when he was about 6weeks old and fell over looking for a belly rub. Mice and moles beware (!) but anything else, he's just not interested.