It finally happened...

[Dashy]

Looked out the kitchen window and the neighbour's white cat had audrey in her mouth!! Have put audrey in a separate coop but she's in shock. Unfortunately my rather large dog wouldn't hurt a fly.. Or a cat!

[Nicos]

Oh no....I hope she's OK.

Good job you were there to rescue her! Poor thing..and you!

[MaureenHall]

I do hope she's ok hun. A size 10 boot up the cat's backside wouldn't come amiss, or a hard blast with a hosepipe!!!!

[Dashy]

Ooh, I might try both! At first she rolled onto her back and couldn't get upright in the coop. I've placed her in the nesting box and just checked on her, still ok. She has a wound on her neck but doesn't seem to be oozing. It's getting dark now so I won't bother her again until morning.Will fill you in tomorrow..

[RedThorn]

know the feeling Dashy.. lost 5 maybe 6 girls to Foxes this week... Thoughts with you and here's hoping she pulls through. They (the girls) sure do worm their way into your hearts don't they

[Hans Mum]

hope she pulls through

[Dashy]

Thanks for the lovely comments, it is heart breaking. Red thorn, that is awful. Were they free range or did the foxes break in. What a scary time for the poor little girls.

[RedThorn]

They free range, but are usually locked up at night. OH is 39 weeks pregnant and as I was away on business, she did not want to rick slipping on the mud, so that night, they were not locked away. Her descision was the right one, but still is heartbreaking for us.

Please keep us posted on your girl will you?

[Eco-Chic]

Dashy, sorry to hear that. My banties have my cat just scared enough to be respectful.

Do you know whether the wound is from a bite or scratch? It might be as well to dress it with gentian violet and get some antibiotic for her to prevent infection.

I hope she rallies.

[HayleyB]

Bladdy cats, our's is disdainful of the chooks but then he is senile, I hope Audrey comes through the night ok.

[petal]

Our cats are terrified of the chickens, Gandalf the rooster has mobbed them a couple of times. You can borrow him for your neighbours cat if you like.

[Jeanied]

Petal I think you'll find that Dashy is in Oz - a bit of a hike for old Gandalf!

[Bramble-Poultry]

How is Audrey? Keep her warm and well fed.

If our cat brings in a mouse or rabbit or similar then it must have been road kill as he is a useless hunter. The female is the better hunter (as with mmost cat species, lions included) and she is ruthlessly efficient. However, she leaves the chickens well alone. Any other cat straying into our holding (including the farms manky old farm cats) get a good kicking from my boys (two huge cats, if you see a big cat on CCTV it was probably my Java walking past the camera, not a puma).

The hunter is currently out of action mind you as she got run over the other month by a tractor and broke her pelvis in three places. She is a bit stiff but getting better. She will be back out soon reigning terror on mouse kind, but in the meantime we are getting more visits from the farm cats as they know there is a drop in the defences!

[Dashy]

She's alive! Didn't get up from the nesting box but also wasn't so stunned that she didn't put up a mild protest that I was there.. Have left her with a bowl of porridge and honey. Thankfully the weathers back to winter so happy to leave them in their coops for the next week. time to bring in the cavalry I'm thinking. Flights booked for Eco chicks mildly scary cat, hayley bs senile cat, sounds scary enough.., Petal's gandalf (he can stop off in nz on his way home), maureen's boot and 2 seats each for java and friend...

Ps red thorn, Totally the right decision, was just wondering time of day, my brazen chooknapping was broad daylight!! Fingers crossed for the last little one. Maybe you could borrow the above mentioned 'army' too

[frias]

Good for Audrey. Fingers crossed.