Cambridge chiks Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hi, we got our 3 beautiful chikens yesterday (brown hen, speckedy and magpie) and have been enjoying seeing them bravely explore their new home. We are a bit concerned aboout next door's 3 cats though- they have been surrounding the coup with their hunting expressions on and sometimes running up to the coup which makes the ladies shriek and get flustered. We would like the chickens to be fully fre range but worry that one swift bite to the neck from these hunters and they'll be a gonner. Any advice/ experience would be really welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Hi *waves* welcome to the forum weve had chooks for nearly 2 years, in my experience the cats are in danger from the chickens, not the other way round we live in a high populated by cats area, and even the biggest bruser in the cat gang looks away when a chicken comes in the direction those beaks and claws are pretty evil you know what I would (and do) worry about are foxes though, make sure that they are safe from foxes. just make sure that you dont leave them to free range on their own, you just need to supervise. happy chickening cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Hello and welcome to the forum I agree with Cathy! I have 3 cats of my own and they steer clear of the chickens - they know who's boss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 welcome! I have 3 bantams and the cat (and neighbour's cats ) are terrified of them! Poppy " hunted" them before I let them out, pouncing through the run etc - but once out, they soon saw her off. Now she gives them a wide berth. I'd supervise the first few times, but I think you'll be surprised - as will the cats!! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 once your girls have settled in they & the cats will get used to eachother, the cats soon realise that your girls do not eat their food (OK they will if they get the chance) but my girls make such a noise if local cats get near them the cats normally keep well clear, my own cats are so used to the chikens that they now sit in with them when they are out of the run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kettle Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 My cat tried to 'hunt' them when they arrived too. One swift peck on the nose and now they feign ignorance of each others' existence and they free-range happily in the garden together. If any other cat comes into the garden, the girls shriek blue murder until it beats a hasty retreat. So don't worry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smanners Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Hi there and welcome, I have 8 cats and each one is absolutely petrified of the chooks. Despite the girls being enclosed behind their netting the cats give them the widest berth and dash past them as quick as they can across the grass. The cats have also perfected the art of getting around the garden using the safety of the 6ft fence Not sure I'd trust them with chicks or small bantams though as they are terrible pigeon murderers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairygothmother Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 We let our girls out on Sunday for the first time, and had bought the fence thingy omlet sell. We have a very small 3 yr old cat, who squeezed herself through the fence and just ate some of the pellets for some reason. When the grapes came out she was in the fight to get one, and she does even eat grapes The girls were so not bothered by her. She did have a small pounce at them, but after a good ol peck on the nose scuttled off rather embarassed looking fairygothmother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottyappy Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 Our own cats give the chooks a very wide berth. However, one of my neighbours has just released a young cat, probably about 5 months old.He is terrified of other humans and runs if I so much as rattle the back door handle, but he keeps eyeing Posh and Pecks up. Luckily, they move much faster than him!However, the kitten has taken to eating the girls' feed in the grubs, and he makes an awful mess, spilling it everywhere! Today, I caught him actually going in the eglu. Not sure what would've happened had one of the hens been in there, but I hope he will soon grow up with a healthy respect for them! I only let the girls free range when I am about to keep an eye on them, so if there were an altercation, I hopefully would be able to intervene. Sandie Shiney) Posh Pecks Sylvie, Patch, Tom and Jess the cats. Bubbles the budgie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambridge chiks Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 Thankyou all for your great advice! Now 3 days in our lovely ladies seem much bolder (suddenly eating vast amounts of pellets too- does that mean they are nearly ready to lay ?!) and not at all bothered by the cats who are still staking out the coup- we are going to try a first introduction to the wide world this weekend, so watch this space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy33 Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I had the same worry when we bought our three ladies...I need not have worried the girls have terrified all the local cats that came to investigate th strange noises. They can be very intimidating to the cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
