LuckyChickenLover- Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I've been very stupid. Today it was quite sunny so I decided to let the chooks have some fresh air . I put them in the eglu and checked on them every now and again. When I came back I found both of my chicks cowering in the eglu. They'd done a lot of poo, presumably because they were scared. I took them both inside and saw that Priscilla had two marks on her head that were bleeding. There was also a wing feather on the floor. I don't know what happened. She was probably attacked by a cat, as there are about six cats that live in my street, one of which looks very hungry. She was seen in my garden yesterday. The chooks have a tendancy to also 'play fight' each other, but I really don't think that either chick is capable of injuring the other so badly. I checked the eglu over for any sharp things which might have done it, but I didn't find any. I cleaned up Priscilla's cuts with warm water. Is there anything else I should do? How do you cat-proof an eglu? I asumed that if it was fox-proof it would be cat-proof too. I feel stupid for letting them out. Thanks ~ (un)Lucky Chicken Lover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Can you clarify - how old are these, are they chicks or hens? I assume they are chicks and that is why they aren't usually in the Eglu. If they were in the Eglu with the run door closed I think it's unlikely that a cat could attack them - not heard of that happening with hens, but maybe if they are chicks then a cat might be interested? Bathing with warm water is probably all you can do at this stage. Sorry to hear about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks. The chicks are 3 weeks old. The door of the run was closed and locked with the pin. The back door of the acctual eglu is broken and we have ordered a new one, but I don't think that the cat broke in that way as the door was still on when I found them. I think the cat (or whatever it was) clawed Priscilla through the bars of the run, although why my Priscilla didn't run away is a mystery to me. Maybe she were was curious and naive because the had never seen a cat before. I'm pretty sure it was a cat. I can't think what else it could have been. Foxes generally only come out at night round here, and this was at about midday. There are several cats in my street and one of them I'm pretty sure is a stray, because she's really skinny. She was spotted in my garden yesterday as well so I'm pretty sure it was her. They're not usually in the Eglu I just thought it would be nice for thm to have some fresh air. My mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 A cover either up at least a foot up each side (lawn edging, plastic sheet, strips of shower curtain will stop anything being able to grab at the chicks through the bars TBH they are very diddy to be out with no heat even if its sunny and what with not being very streetwise it may be better to try again when they are a bit older - in a couple of weeks or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 You are lucky not to have had anything more serious to tidy up Thank heavens they are ok. Just keep them warm and quiet. Good luck, you're not stupid, you've just gained more experience Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks everyone I'll be more careful next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
