Cat after my chickens

[pickledtink]

My 4 have a decent sized permanent head height covered run which is fox proof but also have fenced off bottom bit of garden as well for them to range. Not possible to cover as has trees in it. I usually make sure they get half the day or at least a few hours out in that but only when I'm here. So far although a fox has tried to get at then in the coop or run they have been upset but safe.

Since a posse of cats killed and shredded a large seagull fledgling who got stuck here for five days my chickens are being targeted when out of their run.
They are big girls and the first time I heard the commotion and ran up there they had frightened the cat off. it was scrabbling up the shed onto the roof and away so I figured they had attacked it together and were able to look after themselves. Yesterday it was there again and had chased the littlest gentlest hen into the coop but the head bird was clearly having a go and defending her.
Anyone got any experience regarding cats and chooks who can advise me?

[Bramble-Poultry]

My 4 cats steer well clear of the chooks - 1 too many pecks. Never actaully had a really problem with others to be fair as with 4 of my own and 2 dogs strays tend to stay away.

The only suggestion I can make is to put something ontop of the fence to stop them getting onto it - you can get spikes and things designed for the job or you can build a barrier at a 45 degree angle from the fence out of a few scraps of wood and some mesh to see if this deters them from getting onto the fence and into the run. You can also buy sonic cat scarers, my uncle has one cos he has aviary birds and he rekkons its great.

Great excuse to get a puppy!!!

[Hans Mum]

just after i got my girls my ginger tom who is a predator got into the run needless to say he is the one now bearing the scars and he treats the girls with a healthy respect, even spent the night with them a few weeks ago

[RichmondHens]

My cats are interested in chicks for 5 weeks then leave them alone. They have never attacked a fully grown one (or a juvenile), and quite a few of mine free range around the place. Get a water pistol and attack the cat!!!

[Bramble-Poultry]

Unless my balck and white is the cat in question - he chases the water!! (weirdo)

water pistol is a great idea

[Bephlam]

We have 3 cats, and they've never been a problem with the chickens. In my experience the girls sort them out when they get too friendly. In saying that though, my cats sleep in the coup with the girls if they get the chance.

I can't really advise...I just slowly introduced the girls to the cats (and waited until they were fully grown). After that, I left them to it...and the girls came out on top!

Good luck!

[JackieAt]

we have chooks and cats and the cats will steer clear when they can..even form the newby chicks.
I did notice that our cats will actually see neighboring cats off if they stray near the garden.

[julesapple]

We have 11 cats, and none of them chase the chooks. We do get other cats in the garden, and the chooks will make a racket and run for the henhouse. We turn the hose on the foreign cats as quickly as we can.

Interesting how the chooks can tell the difference between our cats and neighbourhood cats.

Jules

[SuzyB]

I have two cats of my own and both steer very clear of my girls. Nutmeg who is top girl especially will have a go, even if the cats are minding their own business and no where near her, to her its like sport We also have a cat either side and although initially they were quite interested, now they darent get too close!

[Glutton4...]

My elderly Siamese (bags of attitude) just saunters around among the Chooks. They eye her up, she eyes them up, 22 against 1 - I guess she's intelligent enough to know the odds!

[its hilly]

The bungalow nearest my rented buildings has 6 cats. They left my big chooks alone and wont even walk past the geese but Ive found them sat on the stable door where the (not so) little ones are. Its got weldmesh up so they cant get in but Im not letting them out when Im not around until theyre a bit bigger. My mate uses one of those high pressure water guns when they come in her garden and two or three direct hits seem to put them off. They really hate those spikey plastic fence toppers too