worried about the neighbors cats and raccoons

[coolchick]

we have six layers and will probably reduce that number to three or four. We would like to let the birds roam the yard (we have a six foot fence) but are worried about predators. they would be inside at night safe from the raccoons but we are worried about the neighbors cats during the day. does a full sized sex link have to worry about a cat?

 

[ChelleEnchanted]

My cats are scared to death of my chickens, Haha.

I found the only things i have to worry about with cats are chicks and bantams.
They'll eat them if they can bring them down.

Standards are too, pecky for them.

Still, i'd keep an eye out on them.

 

[Chirpy]

I have heard some people say that a cat killed their chicken, so it depends on the cats.

I have five large barn cats who hunt all the time and they stay well away from my chickens. The first time each of them went near the chickens my hens all ran right at the cats and chased them away. It was pretty funny to watch!

I'm guessing it might depend on whether the cat is feral or a house/barn cat that is out hunting. Feral cats are probably more likely to try and take on a chicken (this is just a guess).

I won't let my chicks near my cats though... as stated above ... the smaller chicks (and possibly bantams) might be more appealing to a cat.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

cats will kill chickens, but usaully you don;t have to worry about them getting large birds. I've lost bantams and chicks to my meighbors cats.

 

[carwinew]

We have 15 indoor/outdoor cats plus a stray who claims us. We have free range chickens who are released after the kids are dropped off at school in the morning and put themselves back in their coops at sunset, more or less. I have never lost a chicken to cats but did lose a week old chick to a suspected cat predator. New chicks are allowed to roam once they get about 1/2 grown. The cats and the chickens roam the property together without a problem. Now dogs are another story. Puppies can be trained to leave them alone most of the time but full grown dogs are hard and sometimes impossible to train especially terriers.

 

[Mom 2em All]

I have five cats and one has been in 'training' to leave my chicken alone. Whenever I have her out in the yard with me, the cat tried to 'stalk' her and got soaked by the hose. Now she won't look at her. Three of my other cats ignore the chicken now that she has passed the little stage. Only one of my cats has never shown an interest:

There are a couple tom cats in my neighborhood though, that I have seen chase squirrels and I know they would try to catch my chickens. I don't trust them. They stay out of my yard because of my dogs, but they are smart and I know they would find a way to sneak in, if allowed.