Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[Doody]

Hi,

 

Hi everyone, OMG, this isnt what i was expecting, hopefully it was a one off. I had literally put my 3 new chickens in there pen, was just sitting there and watching them, when WHACK. Right on the side of the pen a cat tried to attack them, but to no joy cause of the wire etc.

 

The chickens jumped in the air, i jumped in the air, and the cat ran off, looking terrified. The cat also looked young, so im really hoping this doesnt happen again, as eventually i want them to be able to roam around the garden and stretch there chicken legs.

 

Im going to protect them as much as i can, and ill try and make my garden cat proof as much as i can, but wasnt expecting something like this to happen so soon, was literally 5 mins after i got them.

 

Mark

[Egluntyne]

Our neighbourhood cats give my hens a wide berth after a good pecking.

[SmurfingDude]

I have 2 cats & there are lots of other cats around but they soon learn the pecking order

[midori]

Our neighbours cats were really interested in ourhens at first. I kept chasing them away until I decided to let the hens deal with them.

 

One of the cats had to go through our garden to get home yesterday andhe sort of skulked past, well away from the hens, clearly trying to avoid them, so has obviosuly had a severe telling off!

[Doody]

I think my girls will sort the cats out, it was just a shock though.

 

Ive just gave them some corn on the cob and some small chopped strawberries as there first treat. However lol, they havent even looked at it. I think they are so used to corn, pellets etc, they didnt know what it was.

 

Hopefully i can encourage them to enjoy a treat every so often. Im so happy to have them, just want them to be happy now..

[Nicho]

Our cat occasionally thinks he's a tiger and chases the chooks across the garden. It suprises me as he has been put in his place often enough and then won't do it again until he has plucked up some courage, usually about a month before he dares again.

 

I don't think the chickens are too bothered by him though, they have never had cause to stop laying and are quite happy to continue digging the flower bed up after less than a minute later. The chickens are so used to him now that his favourite place to sit is on top of the eglu peering into the run and the chooks don't give a hoot

[Doody]

Our cat occasionally thinks he's a tiger and chases the chooks across the garden. It suprises me as he has been put in his place often enough and then won't do it again until he has plucked up some courage, usually about a month before he dares again.

 

I don't think the chickens are too bothered by him though, they have never had cause to stop laying and are quite happy to continue digging the flower bed up after less than a minute later. The chickens are so used to him now that his favourite place to sit is on top of the eglu peering into the run and the chooks don't give a hoot.

 

Lol, funny.

 

I just dont want anything to happen to them though, i just want them to have a nice home, stress free etc. Id hate to be sitting in the garden and a cat come flying out from nowhere grabbing the chicken by the neck and killing it.

 

Ive seen one of these cats take a big dove down, but i guess a chicken can use those talons and beak rather well. Ill keep a close eye on the situation, as in next 2 weeks i want to let them stretch there chicken legs. Should i leave it longer or brave it sooner?

 

Also what is the best way to encourage them back in, they dont seem to have the taste for treats yet lol, as they have refused the corn on the cob and strawberries i just gave them lol.

 

Thank you for your help by the way. Ive done plenty of research, but now i have them, its gone to panic mode, and just want to do everything right lol...

 

Mark

[meezers]

Hi Doody it's me - Ali-s

I have three cats who now avoid the back garden when the chooks are out. A few months after I got them,one of my siamese made the mistake of trying to cut through the garden while the chooks were free ranging. I swear it was like the scene from Jurrassic Park when the velociraptors surround and move in on their prey poor cat didn't know which way to turn and ended up going vertically over the fence , he has steered well clear of the chooks ever since.

[Doody]

Hi Doody it's me - Ali-s

I have three cats who now avoid the back garden when the chooks are out. A few months after I got them,one of my siamese made the mistake of trying to cut through the garden while the chooks were free ranging. I swear it was like the scene from Jurrassic Park when the velociraptors surround and move in on their prey poor cat didn't know which way to turn and ended up going vertically over the fence , he has steered well clear of the chooks ever since.

 

Hello, i wondered if i would bump into you in here lol.

 

So cats are officially scared of chickens, that is good news. Ive put my girls to bed now. They wasnt sure about going inside the little hut area, so i had to help them in. Im amazed at how friendly they are. Ive just peeked through the window and they are all snuggled up together and asleep already lol.

 

I gave them strawberries and corn on the cob earlier also. At first they didnt know what it was, they ignored it, but about 30 mins later i went up the garden and they was loving it. I think its probably the first time they have ever had a treat.

 

I know i wont sleep tonight. Ive locked it all up, but im terrified of foxes (Although never seen one, i know they are around) Ive taken in there water bowl and there food bowl, and i be up nice and early to give them fresh food and water ready for a day in the sunshine. If i have a egg in the morning, brilliant, but im not pushing them, just want them to settle.

 

Ive even put the night light on, so if any intruders enter the garden i will see em lol.

 

Is there anything else i should do at night. How long do you think before they take themselves to bed, are chickens fast learners lol ??

[abwsco]

Hi Doody it's me - Ali-s

I have three cats who now avoid the back garden when the chooks are out. A few months after I got them,one of my siamese made the mistake of trying to cut through the garden while the chooks were free ranging. I swear it was like the scene from Jurrassic Park when the velociraptors surround and move in on their prey poor cat didn't know which way to turn and ended up going vertically over the fence , he has steered well clear of the chooks ever since.

 

Hello, i wondered if i would bump into you in here lol.

 

So cats are officially scared of chickens, that is good news. Ive put my girls to bed now. They wasnt sure about going inside the little hut area, so i had to help them in. Im amazed at how friendly they are. Ive just peeked through the window and they are all snuggled up together and asleep already lol.

 

I gave them strawberries and corn on the cob earlier also. At first they didnt know what it was, they ignored it, but about 30 mins later i went up the garden and they was loving it. I think its probably the first time they have ever had a treat.

 

I know i wont sleep tonight. Ive locked it all up, but im terrified of foxes (Although never seen one, i know they are around) Ive taken in there water bowl and there food bowl, and i be up nice and early to give them fresh food and water ready for a day in the sunshine. If i have a egg in the morning, brilliant, but im not pushing them, just want them to settle.

 

Ive even put the night light on, so if any intruders enter the garden i will see em lol.

 

Is there anything else i should do at night. How long do you think before they take themselves to bed, are chickens fast learners lol ??

 

Hi Doody, it's the other mad chicken woman here Where's your pics and I bet you'll be up early tomorrow

[Doody]

Hi Doody it's me - Ali-s

I have three cats who now avoid the back garden when the chooks are out. A few months after I got them,one of my siamese made the mistake of trying to cut through the garden while the chooks were free ranging. I swear it was like the scene from Jurrassic Park when the velociraptors surround and move in on their prey poor cat didn't know which way to turn and ended up going vertically over the fence , he has steered well clear of the chooks ever since.

 

Hello, i wondered if i would bump into you in here lol.

 

So cats are officially scared of chickens, that is good news. Ive put my girls to bed now. They wasnt sure about going inside the little hut area, so i had to help them in. Im amazed at how friendly they are. Ive just peeked through the window and they are all snuggled up together and asleep already lol.

 

I gave them strawberries and corn on the cob earlier also. At first they didnt know what it was, they ignored it, but about 30 mins later i went up the garden and they was loving it. I think its probably the first time they have ever had a treat.

 

I know i wont sleep tonight. Ive locked it all up, but im terrified of foxes (Although never seen one, i know they are around) Ive taken in there water bowl and there food bowl, and i be up nice and early to give them fresh food and water ready for a day in the sunshine. If i have a egg in the morning, brilliant, but im not pushing them, just want them to settle.

 

Ive even put the night light on, so if any intruders enter the garden i will see em lol.

 

Is there anything else i should do at night. How long do you think before they take themselves to bed, are chickens fast learners lol ??

 

Hi Doody, it's the other mad chicken woman here Where's your pics and I bet you'll be up early tomorrow

 

LOL, Helloooo, so nice im already know in here lol. Yes i will be up early in the morning lol, oh well, its got to be done lol...