4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Sarah B]

Just had a bit of a nightmare. The chooks were out free ranging and we heard an awful racket of cats and chooks panicking!!

 

Went out the back and my cats were seeing off a black and white cat that had obviously had a go at my Madras

 

There was a patch of her feathers and some hanging off her breast? I've had a look and can't see any blood but she seems shocked as she was still for a bit but then marched around doing this continuous bokbokbok CLUCK really loudly??? They are usually very quiet girls. That noise seems to have stopped now (until any cats go near that is), and shes eating as I've put them back in the run with mealworms and pasta and greens.

 

Is there anything else I should do? We have filled the massive water pistol in case the cat comes back. I'm not here tomorrow and though the chooks will be in their run I'm really worried????

Edited May 7, 2008 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

I'm glad she is OK.

 

I dare say the cat will have had as much of a fright as the hens.

 

They will be fine in the run tomorrow.

 

Bach's Rescue Remedy is often recommended for the hens after a shock....and for the owner too!

[Sarah B]

I'm a bit upset actually Egluntine, I'm having a rescue remedy of a cigarette when I'm supposed to have given up smoking and a LARGE glass of white wine when I'm supposed to be preparing for a presentation I have in Manchester tomorrow, (4 hour drive each way). Not good

 

My poor Madras though - the cat was quite bold it wouldnt go back over the fence even with my OH shouting at it and Missy seeing it off?? She still has a couple of feathers hanging off from just under her crop and the area was very hot to the touch? Do you think I should just leave the poor girl to de-stress or stress her out more by having another look???

 

I'm very worried that cat will be back tomorrow to see what other 'chicken sport' is to be had?

 

Edit - I don't have any Bachs for the chooks it's probably the only thing I havent got chook wise

[Sarah B]

Wow - 2 of my cats are actually guarding the chickens!!! The nasty chicken getting cat came in from the left over the fence. I'm impressed

 

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Oh bless, how awful . .hose pipe!! Pay the neighbours to chicken watch & cat shoooo.

I love cats but what a brazen little minx, you must be worried, hope you get your work done & travel carefully . Hopefully all will be okay & t wont be long til your back home & can see your chooks are safe.

 

Ms Tilys6chooksalaying6lovelyeggsnoneleftnowuntiltomorrow

[chocchick]

We're having a few cat problems, we find chasing/a hosepipe works well. We have been wondering about ca"Ooops, word censored!"ch (cat version of foxwatch). Anyway, I was going to say the feather loss could be the chickens flapping about if there is no injury. OH caught a cat in the pen and the chickens were going crazy dropping feathers!

[TAJ]

Our own cat took a chunk of feathers like this on Friday - but he is still trying to get to them - their noise has not put him off at all.

 

Tracy

[Abbey Road Girl]

I am totally confused and amazed. So much at stake and so difficult to assess what's going on!

 

Had my Pepperpots free ranging for the first time this evening. Had invited the people next door to help and enjoy it.

 

Things often go very well and sometimes all hell breaks loose!

[Olly]

Sorry to hear that, your own cats look very sweet guarding the Eglu!

 

Just wanted to say that the bokbokbokCLUCK is exactly the reaction mine make to a nasty shock (er, like their owner undoing the Eglu run and collapsing it while they were inside .. ) I'd never heard it before, and it went on for an embarrassingly long time even after I'd established that there were no injuries. I don't think it is significant in itself, it's just a chicken telling everyone else what a horrid shock they have had.

 

I'd definitely use hosepipe/water pistol - black-and-white cat will get the message.

[Chuckov]

Sorry to hear Madras has had a fright, hope it doesn't interrupt her famous egg factory!

 

Ours have had a couple of tussles with the local cats now, but nothing as serious as that. I think the cat got good and frightened. I hope Madras is OK.

[Sarah B]

Thank you for all your replies, fingers crossed she seems much better this evening but there were some smelly runny poos in the eglu this morning

 

I haven't seen the cat back but I have only been in an hour, I hope it didn't visit today as the bokbokbokCLUCK is well loud and would annoy my neighbours.

 

She laid today so that is a good sign! If I see that cat again its deffo getting the full benefit of the hose or water pistol - whatever I can grab first!

 

Thank you all for replying I appreciate it.