YorkshirePud Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I haven't got my girls yet. Waiting for a call from BHWT next month hopefully. However, where our girls will be is also a cut through for one of our neighbours horrendous cats. Will this be a problem? has anyone else had cat problems, or will the girls be OK? Just want to ask. Cheers Pud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I have 3 cats & there are plenty other cats in the area. No problems whatsoever- the hens can stick up for themselves. Having said that , my girls were not rescue hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Hens should be able to fend cats off so I've heard, certainly will once they are back to full health if ex-batts. I had no issues when I had a bluebelle and 2 Silkie crosses in my garden, and my neighbour has about 6 cats! Does anyone know if cats are more dangerous when it comes to bantams? A friend of mine bought 4 bantams on the weekend and yesterday he had 2 cat incidents both when they were freeranging. One leapt in the garden and sat watching unsure of whether to pounce before being chased off. The other (big fat ginger cat) actually crept into the run heading towards the eglu (again all birds were in the garden anyway) before being chased off. Will bantams be able to stick up for themselves? Birds are 2 silkies (not miniatures but not huge), 1 Poland bantam and 1 Pekin bantam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I don't think you'll have any problem with cats. Ours tried her luck with the chickens and definitely came off worst. She now gives them a very wide berth! All the neighbourhood cats which previously visited pre chickens, now stay away. Ex-bats are very good at looking after themselves - they've had to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkshirePud Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 Excellent. It'll be really good to be cat free in the garden. Thanks for all the good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 When our chickens arrived we were worried as 2 of the local cats took a liking to them but they all get along fine. The cats often sit under bushes with the chickens walking around them. The cats seem obsessed with watching the chickens and the chooks take no notice of the cats. However, a while ago someone posted about a cat jumping off a fence onto a chicken and damaging its leg, so maybe you should keep a close eye on them to start with. This is our neighbours cat watching the girls, the other cat was behind me on the patio... http://club.omlet.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=19613 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rivetts Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 We have 3 cats, and have never had an issue. I've seen the cats consider "playing" with the hens, but one look from a beady-eyed chicken, and they change their minds. I did see a local feral cat go into the Eglu when one of my girls was having her post-laying rest. The cat came shooting out backwards, with a chicken pecking at it's head and boxing it's head with her feet! Never seen such a hasty retreat. The cat has not visited the Eglu again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 My brother's labrador got a nasty peck on the nose the other day! OUr three cats have steered well clear, although they did watch from the other side of the netting/ run with great interest when we first got them. I think most hens can stick up for themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 I have a young ex feral cat & she tried to grab a chicken when they were out for the first time, stalked like a little lioness accross the lawn & then lept up to pounce & grab the chicken when Babs suddenly spun around flapping furiously & squarking at the top of hre voice, i have never seen a cat turn around in midair & run off at such speed ever!! won't do that again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
