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  • Cat Stole Our Chick

    Yesterday we had a chick stolen and, presumably, killed by a neighbouring cat.

    We've had problems before with this cat, but a few water bombs (near misses, I can't throw) sorted him out and he got the message that he was not to touch the girls.

    Except the cat was biding his time. The girls were all roosting up in the afternoon warmth under some shrubs with Shirley and her three frizzle/silky/pekin chicks, dozing away. We heard nothing despite being only yards from them, they didn't make a single squawk or cluck. The cat just ran through, grabbed a chick and kept running. BH saw him scale the fence with the chick's wing dangling. The weren't even any feathers in the garden.

    We chased it immediately, and tracked him down to a hedge that is easily 4ft thick and very dense, but no chick. With the help of a dozen neighbours we've looked high & low through all of the surrounding gardens, front & rear and still cannot find the chick, or hear it.

    I know it is, but I am sick of hearing people saying 'It's only a chicken' and as a cat owner, I know that the cat was just being a cat. But it doesn't stop me from feeling that I've let the chick down.

    We've reconfigured our fencing as best we can, but I'm very worried to be going away this weekend to see my Dad before he has heart surgery. There is always someone here when the girls are out, but we just aren't as quick as that cat and he's bound to come back now he knows he can catch them.

    I just feel awful to be leaving the girls with even a tiny risk of danger.

    Jules
    Jules

    Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

    ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

    Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

  • #2
    Oh dear- I'd feel just the same
    I constantly have that fear with 'our' 3 buzzards which circle our area.

    Is there anyway you can keep Shirley indoors with her chicks whilst you are away- or is it too hot?
    "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

    Location....Normandy France

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    • #3
      Sorry to hear it Jules. Unfortunately chicks are an easy target for cats. It's better to keep them in a broody coop/ covered run for at least 5 weeks before you let them free range, even with a hen, to avoid this sort of thing happening. A human presence will deter crows or magpies but not a cat.

      Have you not got a broody coop/ark they can live in when you go away? Where do they normally live?
      Last edited by RichmondHens; 08-07-2010, 04:25 PM.

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      • #4
        Terrible news.
        I don't suppose the owners would be sympathetic to putting a bell on the cat?
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          These are our older chicks, almost 7 weeks now, so we thought that they would be safer. As mum's go, Shirley is excellent and will chase anything that comes even remotely near her precious babes. This cat was quick and quiet because it had been & gone before the big girls noticed.

          We've spent today re-arranging everything to suit all of our chooks at their various stages. The back garden is a maze of green debris netting & steel pins- if this cat gets in he'll have a helluva job getting out again, which may give one of us a chance to get to the scene and do a rescue job.

          The owners of the cat, despite several neighbours witnessing the act, is adamant that this cute cuddly puddy tat wouldn't hurt a fly. They are also convinced that their cats don't need collars as they are microchipped but given the state of these semi-feral cats, I would seriously doubt they have ever seen a vet, let alone been chipped. They aren't even pets as you can't touch them and the next door neighbour says they aren't allowed in the house. I've spoken to the RSPCA who refuse to come out to check the poor condition of these cats they are "too busy"

          I need to win the lottery and move to deeper countryside

          Jules
          Jules

          Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

          ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

          Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

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          • #6
            What a damn' shame. One of my lil' Dutch bantams disappeared without trace, I guess that could have been a cat too....though I would have thought that the presence or even scent of my two dogs(however daft) might deter a cat...........?

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            • #7
              Jess, our cats aren't deterred by next door's three huge collies - they still use their garden as a shortcut to the fields behind. Maybe they get used to scents that are always there?

              I haven't been able to relax today and get on with chores or sewing. The only upside of that has been that I've spent my whole day in the garden and done much needed jobs tying in the vines and getting blanket weed out of the pond. And spent the time with the chooks, which is always nice. They loved the watercress scraps out of the pond.

              Jules
              Jules

              Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

              ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

              Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

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              • #8
                Boo for cats, they do have some bad habits.

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                • #9
                  as for cats,there is just too many of them,around 9 million according to the rspca,any attack my birds will be treated same as a fox,you dont get any reoffending then,no bell or collar = feral..end of problem..

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by BUFFS View Post
                    as for cats,there is just too many of them,around 9 million according to the rspca,any attack my birds will be treated same as a fox,you dont get any reoffending then,no bell or collar = feral..end of problem..
                    Bit harsh Whilst i appreciate the loss of any livestock or pet or birds is hard, Cats and any other, are just doing what they would as is natural. It's one thing for a farmer to shoot pigions that are decimating his crop but completley diffrent when the owner of whatever animal is distressed by the loss of it. My cats look at my mums Chooks, my neighbours dog looks at my cat both with the intention to kill, but i would never look at his dog and think, well i'll treat you like a wild, If he kills my cat!!. I've had OWNED cats killed by dogs.. it happens.

                    Jules I am truley sorry for your loss, Cats are Shixs!

                    Binley really does Know best!
                    G4-Meteorological mastermind! Stone/String it's all covered!
                    Jeanied- Makes your day complete!!
                    PB- Masteress of Pumpkins!


                    I Don't Know who Dave is...But he's one cool Dude!
                    I Once was a Tuber but with a little practice!!

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                    • #11
                      If a cat is never allowed in the house, and cannot be approached, it is behaving like a wild animal, and no reason it shouldn't be treated as one. That is assuming you CAN do so, it may be impractical.
                      Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Hilary B View Post
                        If a cat is never allowed in the house, and cannot be approached, it is behaving like a wild animal, and no reason it shouldn't be treated as one. That is assuming you CAN do so, it may be impractical.
                        Thats fair comment , But how do you tell if a cats that way just cause he/she hasn't got a collar on? Mine shed their collars weekley yet two are house cats and the other a mouser and theyd all run at the sight of a stranger. If a cat is never allowed in the house and cannot be approched then(it shouldn't be a pet to any one) chase it off unless your sure, and if you are sure then make sure it's leagal quarry before you pop it's cloggs

                        Binley really does Know best!
                        G4-Meteorological mastermind! Stone/String it's all covered!
                        Jeanied- Makes your day complete!!
                        PB- Masteress of Pumpkins!


                        I Don't Know who Dave is...But he's one cool Dude!
                        I Once was a Tuber but with a little practice!!

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                        • #13
                          Catapult (sorry about the punn), ice cube, cat! The evidence melts.

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                          • #14
                            with a broody and her chicks you have to have a pen really as cats, crows, magpies etc will take the chicks. Its not the cats fault, its what they do, unfortunately.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by BUFFS View Post
                              ...,no bell or collar = feral..end of problem..
                              What total rubbish
                              aka
                              Suzie

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