Will a domestic Cat have a go at Chickens ?

[ChrisBNorth]

Can anyone tell me if a domestic cat will tackle pullets ? - I heard a terrible racket last night and found a cat in the run and the Hens doing their best to fly out obviously very distressed, but I was'nt quite sure if the Cat had been cornered by the Chickens or the other way round Is there anyone who knows how to keep a Cat out of the Garden, I thought of one of the Homebase type devices which Humans can't here but I'm not sure if chickens are able to hear these and so putting on by the run would be unpleasant for the Chickens. Any Advice gratefully received.

[RedThorn]

Although the my girls tend to avoid cats, if pressed/ have had enough then they fluff up their wings and scare the living daylights out of the cats. It takes about 4-6 months before they get the courage up again to stalk chickens

[ChrisBNorth]

Great News - Thanks a lot I've been worrying all this morning that when I get back There will just be carcasses !

[Shellintons]

I had my first lot of hens the year after we got our cat. We had a few weeks of puss looking very nonchalant when making her way through the garden (via carlisle) before she plucked up the courage to stalk them. To be fair to her, she left the batams alone and decided the Marans were more likely the best dinner.
I have never seen anything so funny, as the cat launched herself toward a pecking hen and almost landed on this huge, flappy noisy beast.
It was some months before she did it again too
Over the years I have had many a discussion with my cat about the various ducklings, chicks and birds around the place. Mr P (OH) swears she actually listens. The other day she saw off a neighbours cat which was stalking one of my Modern Game bantams (they do look more bird like to be fair). I think that was more a case of 'If I can't have them, I am damn sure you can't'.
I don't worry about the cats so much any more though. My neighbour has 5 and I often find them inside my closed hen coop, with all the hens, trying to catch small wild birds. They are good ratters too, so I am pleased to see them in there as they are likely to despatch any errant rodents

[Bephlam]

We have 13 chooks and 3 cats who all live in perfect harmony. So much so that when the chooks are free ranging the cats sleep in their coup! Chickens are VERY scary to a cat when they fluff up their feathers and charge.

I never let the babies free range with the cats until they are big enough to defend themselves.

It's like any animal...they can ALL be unpredictable, so supervision and understanding is the key.

[terrier]

I agree with what everyone says, cats are no match for a chook. We have two semi feral cats live with us (outside) that we feed just enough to keep them interested. If there's any communal food around, the pecking order is chooks first, then the cats get what's left. I saw a stand off yesterday between Maran and cat, over some food, the chook closed in on the cat, the cat took a swipe at the chook who didn't back off, the cat decided food belonged to chook. Why do I never have a camera in my hand when I need it?

[womble]

If a cat isn't used to chickens, then they may well have a go, especially when they are small. Chickens if they aren't used to cats, will tend to be scared of them.
When they have been around each other for a short while, usually this turns round the other way, with the cats being scared of the chickens and the chickens either ignoring totally, or scaring the cats off.

[ChrisBNorth]

Thats great news ! - I will no longer be so Panic stricken when next doors tabby heads toward the run .

[vicky]

My big black cat will happily drag home a live adult rabbit...but chickens are just too scary to even consider!

[RichmondHens]

Mine will lie about on top of the broody coops drooling over the fluffy chicks, but they usually lose interest when the chicks hit the 5/6 week mark, and that's when I let them out. The cats occasionally have a little fun by running madly amongst them, but all it does is scatter them briefly, and the bigger birds tend to get their own back by sneaking up on a sleeping cat later on. They have also pecked a furry tail on occasion - I guess they thought it was some sort of big furry worm!

[ChrisBNorth]

Cheers Richmond - mine are copper black Marans about 30 weeks old so if your 5/6week olds can deal with a cat mine should be able to, I like the idea of them pecking a furry fail to get their own back!

[elizajay]

I have/had 4 baby bantams now nearly 6 weeks old. They have been free ranging since Saturday. They have kept to the bottom of the garden to avoid the adult hens at the top. This morning they were all cuddled up together in a flower bed. Went out for a bit and when we got back the little flock was just 3, all looking very calm and relaxed. Normally they peep loudly when separated and they fly well.
We don't normally have foxes in the day because the garden is walled on 2 sides. We have seen the occasional sparrow hawk and magpies. I saw one of the chicks fronting up to a cat who considered stalking. No feathers anywhere. Could it be a sparrow hawk? Poor little thing....
Have locked the other 3 in the run and will have a problem tomorrow because they have outgrown their baby run and the adults need to get in to the main run to lay eggs.

[RichmondHens]

Possibly a sparrow hawk Eliza, although bantam chicks at 6 weeks are smaller than large fowl. I think I lost one to a raptor of some sort recently. I let 12 bantam growers out for a run round, and only 11 returned. No feathers, no sign of anything. They were too big for a cat to take. Last week saw 4 buzzards circling above my bantam layer enclosure, so am keeping a close eye out.

[Eco-Chic]

My four 16 week old bantams saw off my cat when she showed too much interest. I had to coax the cat back from two garden fences away

Poor cat is not very happy with four feathered fiends in the back and an extra dog in the front (although the border collie has gone home so she should be happier).

[Nicos]

My cat/s finally decided to peek at my chooks through the corner of their eyes....after the first stare out there's no way they'd go after the chooks!