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Hi
Despite living in the countryside, we've not had cats visit our chicken run in the past year since we started keeping birds. Last night 2 small kittens appeared - probably attracted by the chicks? - and it proved impossible to keep them out of the run - they can just pop through the holes in the netting. Eventually we allowed the dogs out, and one of them stood guard and stopped the kittens coming back in. But they're back again today.
I've read threads on here that say cats are no threat to chickens, so I was expecting our birds to defend themselves. However, although they cluck a bit, they simply walk away and keep moving on each time the kittens get closer. They've not once turned round and attacked them, or even threatened to.
I'm concerned - is it safe to leave them alone in their run with these 2 kittens, one of which is definitely a 'hunter' type, or are they at risk? The only alternative is to shut them inside all the time, as I've done with the chicks and broody while I go out shopping for a while this afternoon... but this isn't a viable long term option really.
As for the dogs - well, one of them screeched to halt when the smaller kitten faced her, and then backed away from it, and the other one will happily bark at them but slowed down when he got close to them and just kind of nosed them out of the run! Sweet, but not much of a deterrent!
Advice please??
Despite living in the countryside, we've not had cats visit our chicken run in the past year since we started keeping birds. Last night 2 small kittens appeared - probably attracted by the chicks? - and it proved impossible to keep them out of the run - they can just pop through the holes in the netting. Eventually we allowed the dogs out, and one of them stood guard and stopped the kittens coming back in. But they're back again today.
I've read threads on here that say cats are no threat to chickens, so I was expecting our birds to defend themselves. However, although they cluck a bit, they simply walk away and keep moving on each time the kittens get closer. They've not once turned round and attacked them, or even threatened to.
I'm concerned - is it safe to leave them alone in their run with these 2 kittens, one of which is definitely a 'hunter' type, or are they at risk? The only alternative is to shut them inside all the time, as I've done with the chicks and broody while I go out shopping for a while this afternoon... but this isn't a viable long term option really.
As for the dogs - well, one of them screeched to halt when the smaller kitten faced her, and then backed away from it, and the other one will happily bark at them but slowed down when he got close to them and just kind of nosed them out of the run! Sweet, but not much of a deterrent!
Advice please??
. I did begin to wonder whether my chickens were just a bit more 'special' than I'd thought up to now, and would willingly become a cat's dinner if asked nicely. The chicks are about 7.5 weeks now, and can move pretty quickly if necessary, although one of them (I'd have put down as dozey and timid) did walk calmly towards one of the kittens to investigate, which was a bit disturbing! It shot off though when the cat moved.
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