dogs and chickens Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I have noticed the last couple of mornings that there are muddy footprints from some animal on the top of the cube! I think they must be a cat, but I have no idea what a fox footprints are like, are they very different to a cats? Anyway the chickens were clearly not very happy this morning, making loads of noise as if frightened and it was the same yesterday!!!! Is there anything I can do to deter the cat or whatever it is? Has anyone else had this problem? We do not have cats ourselves, but I did see a great big black cat laying on a log by their run the other day, although she ran off when I went near. It could have been her. I hope it was not a fox . Will cats kill chcikens? This may be a silly question but I have never kept cats! Thanks in advance Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Don't worry - a full-sized chicken can more than hold its own against the average moggy! Our old cat is even scared of the bantams! The chickens may be alarmed at first - mine still squawk whenever they see a squirrel on the fence! - but once they realise the cat is no threat, they should settle down. Re fox paw prints, they are more like a dog's print, but narrower: Also, I think it relatively unlikely that the only evidence of a fox would be paw-prints on the run - there would almost certainly be attempts at digging... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks Anne, After seeing your paw prints, I think it probably is a cat! Which I am pleased about, as I would not want a fox problem. However I would still like to discourage the cat from getting on top of the cube, as I am sure that has been why the last two morning my girls have been uneasy! I have read somewhere that cats don't like mustard is that true? I could sprinkle some mustard powder onto the top of the cube if it is true? Or is that a bit daft? I'm glad that a cat could not caurse my girls any problems though as I would find that very upsetting . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Most cats hate the smell of citrus - you could try a citrus spray or put some orange/lemon peel in a blender mixed with water and spray that on top of the cube for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I would second the citrus - and it will make your cube smell lovely! If the home-made stuff isn't strong enough, Lakeland sell an orange-scented cleaning paste that's plastic-safe: http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!20564 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Have a look at my avatar, a set of fox prints pops up every so often. There may be fox "scats" or faeces. about. They are black, evil smelling with an intriguing twist at one end. They often have obvious seeds and bits of fur and bone in them. If it is a cat a product called **Silent Roar** has rave reviews. It is essentially granulated lion dung and the idea is that the cat will think that there is a bigger predator of the same species as itself around, and hop it. It is also supposed to work well against foxes....anecdotal evidence only. The manufacturers make no such claims. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Oh that sounds really lovely, I might do that even when the cat has got bored, just to make things smell nice!!!! I will make some up later - I think if I will be chopping lemons I will feel a G & T coming on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 The lion dung stuff sounds really good too. I think I will try the home made stuff first, and if puss cat does not hop it, I will buy some lion dung!!!! I bet my dogs will be really interested! That will be a new one on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 One of my work colleagues has tried lion dung to stop the local cats using a gravelly area in her garden as a litter tray. She says it does work for a while but then the effect seems to wear off, and it's not that cheap. Still, it may put the cat off approaching your hens until it's had a chance to learn that they are not worth the bother. Mine used to creep up on the chickens in the garden then change their minds when they got close enough for one of the girls to fix them with the "Jurassic Park" stare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 You have to keep topping it up as it dissolves in rain, and the smell eventually wears off, but I think if you keep it replenished, it will continue to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
