Urgent chicken advice required - cat!

L

Lucyad

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 September 2009
Messages
603
Visit site
Looking for some more chicken advice - we got our 4 new chickens home last night - unfortunately one, which we knew was the least tame and flightiest one, managed to jump out of the run. it stayed close by, but hind under the horse trailer whenever we tried to catch it.

When it started to get dark, and the other 3 chickens went into their coop, I locked it, and left the run open, leaving a 'nest' in the covered porch on the coop and some food, in case the runaway chicken returned. I spent hours looking for it with a torch, to no avail.

It still hasn't returened this morning. I hope that hearing the other hens out in their run will lure it back.

next problem - our rather evil cat followed us out this morning and imediately climbed the chicken wire and sat ready to pounce on a fence post! I dragged him down by the tail, getting mauled in the process, and locked him in the house for the day. I am now sure that he is going to eat all of the chickens. he is a good hunter and regularly brings rabits and birds into the house (live starling last night, which we had to catch and remove from the bathroom).

Everything I have read seems to suggest that cats and chickens are not usually a problem. What do you think? I think I need a chicken wire roof added to the run TODAY!
 
Cats are not a problem with fully grown chickens. My cats tried stalking my hens when I first got them and quickly realised it was a bad idea when the chickens turned round & chased them away. DO NOT WORRY
 
I was going to suggest a chicken wire roof. As for your escapee, she's probably found somewhere to roost, is she still under the trailer?? Hope you find her!
 
A chicken in a new home will probably spend the first night up a tree, she may also have already been eaten by a fox. My own cats quickly realised that the chickens were "in the gang" and didn't bother them, even though they were very good hunting cats. My dogs were the problem because they found it hard to resist the chickens.
 
Cats should not be a problem. Dogs - bad news.

Your hen, if she's broody, may have hunkered down somewhere at ground level, and will ignore/resist all attempts to coax her back (in which case, if you do find her, put her in a secure pen until she's over it, and don't let her sit on any eggs - unless, of course, you think they might be fertile and you want chicks)!

If you think you have a fox, take serious and immediate action to secure your hens today in a proper house with a closing poop hole, or your chooks will be very short lived!
 
Be careful with the cat. Next doors cat killed one of our chickens and injured another....he is particularly nasty though. My two cats sit in the garden with them and aren't remotely interested. Our puppy is a nightmare with them! Chicken wire roof is essential to protect them or electric fencing. Remember you also have foxes to think about too.
 
Do you mean chickens as in chicks or chickens as in poultry?And are we talking standard sized birds or bantams/minitures of some sort?I'd be more worried about the foxes and badgers than cat if they are adult
 
Rosieshire said:
Cats are not a problem with fully grown chickens. My cats tried stalking my hens when I first got them and quickly realised it was a bad idea when the chickens turned round & chased them away. DO NOT WORRY
Click to expand...

+1

If they are full chickens not bantams, I'd let her try once (while watching) and watch her get put in her place. Ours don't take it from the cats or dogs, my friends collie herds hers up and then runs when they attack!

Pan
 
Get a Buff Orpington rooster! They grow huge and would soon give your cat the old heave-ho. Be even better if you can find a really evil one because ours - Chicken George - was a softie underneath all those glorious feathers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top