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

[reino]

Hello,

We're new to chicken keeping and have two 10 week old lemon millefleurs, Maisie and Cornflake. We've had them for two weeks now and are having a great time getting to know each other.

They are kept in an arc with run underneath during the day and we've been letting them out into the main garden in the evening and weekends, which they love.

Last weekend I had loads of weeding to do, which I was dreading, but I ended up having a wonderful time as the chicks were by my side the whole time, helping me!

I am wanting to let them roam again today but last night a neighbours cat discovered their coop and although we chased him away, he was hiding behind it when I went to let them out this morning.

It looks like he's going to be a constant visitor from now on, so I'm worried about letting them out.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should do, is he likely to attack them?

Will I not have to worry so much when they're bigger or do I need to put netting up?

I'm not happy that their once carefree space seems to have been invaded by the local tom cat!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Reino . Your girls sound lovely (any chance of some pics - we love photos ).

 

I know this is your first post and you weren't wrong to put it in "Welcome" but I'm going to pop it into "Chickens" as you'll probably get more responses to your query there .

 

My neighbour's cat is a fairly regular visitor to our garden and watches the chickens avidly. He's never tried to do anything (yet ) but I'm hoping my girls are big enough to defend themselves. You might be right that yours are a little small to take any risks at present.

 

If you do put netting up it will prevent the cat getting through but you have to watch that they can't get in by jumping down off something (my neighbour's cat uses the garage roof ).

[Guest]

I would be careful whilst they are small - but when they are bigger cats will be more afraid of them! We have a new cat in the neighbourhood who is only brave when they are in the run - when they are out he keeps well out of the way on the shed roof!

 

Louise

[reino]

Thanks Louise,

I think you're right, the cat is frightened to death of us, he ran a mile when he saw me this morning so hopefully he'll be terrified of the chicks too, when they're loose!

[reino]

Hello Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody there'

Sorry I have been trying to reply to you but my private messages are being stored in the outbox and I've somehow lost the initial reply to you too.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

If they are stored in the outbox it just means the recipient hasn't been online and picked them up yet . I've got them now and replied .

[Chickvic]

I have 3 cats and they are more scared of the chickens than the other way round. Don't be surprised if, when your girls are bigger, they will stand their ground and the cat will steer clear!

[reino]

Hello again!

The ginger tom I was worried about on Saturday has killed Cornflake. The chicks had only been out for half an hour when we went to check on them, and found Cornflake missing. We feared the worse because Maisie, the other one, wasn't calling for her.

We checked the back and front gardens, but 5 mins later could hear magpies cawing in the front and ran round to find the chick in next doors garden with her neck broken, guarded by the cat!

Poor Maisie is running backwards and forwards in the run looking for her sister, so I'm ashamed to say I've rung the breeder in tears and we're going to pick up another one tomorrow.

We've learned a hard lesson, and won't be letting them out of our sight when they're out of the coop again.

[Chickvic]

I'm sorry to hear that

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry to hear that . Sadly, there's not much you can do to prevent other people's cats roaming in your garden, is there ? Have you told the cat's owner? The least they could do is pay for your new chicken .