Will feral cats eat my chickens?

[m1chelle1]

 

[N Sully]

If it’s truly a feral cat, it might stay around your property or you might never see it again. If you leave feed out for it, you are also feeding and bringing in other wildlife that could be a problem to your chickens. A feral cat would not choose to stay in the run at night with people coming and going.
I trap feral cats I find on my property and spay or neuter, give rabies and after they test neg for leukemia, give that too and release. Last year I caught a young mother (vet thought around 1 year old) with 4 kittens. The kittens were young enough to tame and went into homes. The mother was spayed and I kept her for 3 weeks to heal before releasing her. She never was comfortable when I would change out her litter box or feed and water her. After release I have spotted her once. She is still in the area and looks so much better, but keeps well hidden.

 

[lcwmt]

I understand that ferals will kill young chickens but I'm looking for an answer to my question which is do they pose a threat to my adult chicken's?

Hope I don't come off as a witch it's hard to tell tone in writing I know just want some good answers

Adult chickens are very good at dealing with cats, in my experience 30+ years ago and now as well.
As suggested, spay/neuter, immunize for rabies (the shelter has probably tended to that) and let the cat do its job. Once it gets the rodents under control you might or might not want to feed it. Upside: it will stick around. Downside, you'd be adding kibble to the chicken feed as well as potentially attracting skunks and raccoons. It's a toss up IMO.
We have 2 dogs and a domestic 6 mo cat. There is a feral cat who wanders through about once every 8 months. It just keeps going. Our property is substantial and surrounded by ranch land and BLM.The 5 chickens free range around the house and are quite safe.

 

[bruceha2000]

Don't risk it, shoot the feral cat.

I believe she was talking about a feral cat that is currently at the shelter, not wandering around. And at least here, the one cat that does come around (not feral, lives across the road) doesn't bother the hens in the least. No reason to shoot a feral cat "just to be on the safe side". It would likely take out the rats long before it would go after a full grown large fowl.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The operative word here is "FERAL"

Feral means a domestic animal that has reverted to it's natural or wild state. Since cats have never been fully domesticated then all cats are wild, or at least waiting, and fully able to go back to their wild state. Therefore all cats are feral in nature. However the largest and strongest "feral" cats don't mind killing even adult chickens and these super cats are a danger to all chickens. Maybe instead you should ask Siegfried and Roy if domesticated tigers are dangerous for middle aged magicians to play with, or if they are just feral.

 

[drumstick diva]

I am not a cat person so I'm not able to offer a non-biased opinion. I don't hurt cats but, don't want them around me or my home. They do seem to love using my raised flower beds as their personal bathroom. Of course the majority of owners out here let them run loose despite traffic, coyotes and fox.

 

[Farm life101]

I would look at getting mor of a domestic cat that was feral but I think that’s getting a cat is a great idea

 

[pintail_drake2004]

I disagree, any cat that is on my property is no longer being contained to their owners place, and is now feral. Feral cats (and coyotes) have practically wiped out our rabbit and quail populations in my area. I will dispose of as many as I can draw a bead on, as they are vermin and a nuisance. Trap, spay/neuter, and release does not prevent a feral cat from decimating a local native bird and rabbit population. And since felids can live a long life, that is decades of them hunting and killing more other species.

 

[chickens really]

Hello..Interesting replies.
To answer the OPs question. The Cat should be okay. It actually might be terrible scared being put in with the Chickens..I would find another way of getting rid of mice. No Cat should be locked into a Coop. My Cat and the freeloader from the Acerage next door hunt mice around my Coops. I would never dream of locking them in it..
Also the Cat if it doesn't think of your place as home, it will leave.

 

[ashlierami]

I understand that ferals will kill young chickens but I'm looking for an answer to my question which is do they pose a threat to my adult chicken's?

Hope I don't come off as a witch it's hard to tell tone in writing I know just want some good answers

In my experience they have never posted a threat to my adult chickens. Especially if you have a good protective roo he will keep things in check if the cat ever does get to close. I have neighborhood cats that come through all the time and they help keep the barn rodent free. My rodent problems stopped once I let a few feral cats hang around. I have silkies as well as larger breed birds and the cats have never bothered them. My chickens also are alert when one is in my yard and they realize it's not an animal they are used to .