Cats

[gemtheblonde]

Hello! I posted a thread the other day about being a new chicken owner! Thank u for the replies!!

I have another question tho!! Have any of u found that ur chickens attract cats into the garden? We have a large number of cats in the area but tonight iv had to chase three away from the girls!! We usually get the odd one coming in but today we have had loads! When i got up tjis morning their run had been moved back from the coop aswell. I didnt hear anything and im a very light sleeper. Just wondering if any of of you know how to get rid of the cats and what could have moved the coop back? It wasnt at an angle at all which makes me wonder if it wasnt a person or not. Am confused and doubtful that ill sleep tonight for being on chicken watch!!

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Gem x

[frias]

When I first got my girls all the neighbourhood cats came to have a look. I think they decided they were too big to tackle. I would imagine moving the coop from the run would take something stronger like a fox or badger. Any signs of digging? Is there any way a 2 legged culprit could get into your garden? Either way I think you need some re-inforcements to your coop and run.

[gemtheblonde]

Thanks for your reply. No signs of digging or scratching at all which is why i thought it might have been a person. We live in a town and lots of houses
and a few pubs nearby. I thought it might have been a pub straggler. Am now regretting my decision to put it on
facebook that we had chickens!

Re the cats, im not sure that they would actually cause them any harm but iv just had to chase the same one away 3 times in a row now! Its very interested in my nest box. I supposr im just worried as ill be out at work all day tomoro and im unsure of how i can better reinforce the run and coop. We have placed some bricks and slabs at the far side of the run so as it cant be pushed back but we r going to drill a few holes in the coop so we can fix the run to it properly.

Gem x

[Hinksy]

Be persistant with the cats and they will soon remember the mad lady who owns the Chickens and runs after cats waving a stick.

When I first setup the veg area we was inundated with cats, I bought a sonic alarm and caught a few cats which I threw back over the fence, they do not seem to come back now but I do keep an eye out for any such intruders.

Cats do have good memories so like said above if you are persistant with them chasing them off or throwing things at them they will soon get the message.

[Suechooks]

Big water pistol aimed at them should give them something to think about!

[Maddie106]

Hello! I posted a thread the other day about being a new chicken owner! Thank u for the replies!!

I have another question tho!! Have any of u found that ur chickens attract cats into the garden? We have a large number of cats in the area but tonight iv had to chase three away from the girls!! We usually get the odd one coming in but today we have had loads! When i got up tjis morning their run had been moved back from the coop aswell. I didnt hear anything and im a very light sleeper. Just wondering if any of of you know how to get rid of the cats and what could have moved the coop back? It wasnt at an angle at all which makes me wonder if it wasnt a person or not. Am confused and doubtful that ill sleep tonight for being on chicken watch!!

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Gem x

Have to confess to having 4 cats AND chooks!

A well grown hen will see off any cat. My cats are SCARED of the hens!!
But cats are nosey beggers...my lot just HAVE to take a look in the coop whenever they can and it's been interesting watching cat/hen interactions!

I wouldn't worry about it.

[dogsbody]

I have to echo Maddie's comment, I too have cats (3) and when I have had chickens (soon to do so again) they have always chased the cats away. I would agree you need to think bigger than that re the run.

[BUFFS]

the problem is really that there are millions too many cats in this country,we should get rid of 90% of them,just keep the mousers,the only useful sort.

[MrsC]

My girls hate the cats and they are now rarely seen in my garden. I rescued the neighbours cat after 9 of them surrounded it in a corner of the garden lol, the girls were not happy with it's appearance

[gemtheblonde]

haha i love the idea of the girls ganging up on the cats! i keep getting up in the mronigs to find grubby little cat paw prints all over my lovely little coop! they are on the prowl and if i have anything to do with it, chicken is most deff NOT on the menu! lol

cheers for the tips!

gem

[petal]

cats do not tend to like chickens, its the way the chicken stares at them and towers over them. our rooster would probably kill the cat if it dared to venture into the pen!!

[Maddie106]

the problem is really that there are millions too many cats in this country,we should get rid of 90% of them,just keep the mousers,the only useful sort.

Oh....nasty comment Buffs!
I assume you don't keep any animals as pets?

My problem is DOGS, not cats.
2 dogs being walked by their owners( without leads) came into my garden a year ago and attacked my 3 chickens.Thank goodness all the chooks survived. I now have a chicken run like Coldiz!

I am also totally fed up with cleaning up dog poo from my drive. I've never seen a stray dog in the area, so it must be from people walking their dogs. Totally irresponsible dog owners!!

[flighty1]

been having a chat with the other half regarding cats & chickens. He says that you can stop the cats (or dogs) simply by placing a small piece of lead in their ear

[flighty1]

oops sorry I forgot to say that OH suggests you use a shot gun to insert the lead, OH really doesn't like cats they make him come out in a rash

[stevemac]

Maybe that is what is needing to happen to your OH flighty

I am getting totally pissed off at this site and others advocating violence to animals.Is'nt it about time the mods/owners of GYO took action against these "people" who post such comments?