MaggieMcHen Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 My friend experienced a cat attack on one of her hens today. The animal was scared away by he OH. Nothing more than feathers lost around her neck and hurt pride on the chickens part, but the friend is worried Any suggestions for preventing such a thing happening. She has two hens and they were free ranging near the house when the cat jumped out of the hedge It has been stalking my girls but I think it finds 7 a more daunting prospect than two and hasn't followed through. They are also VERY noisy when they see something they don't like the look of. Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi Maggie - hope your netting is working out ok! Our cats were very interested in the girls but "chickened out" of actually going too close to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Sorry, can't help - my cat has made one attempt on the hens, and got such a telling-off (from them, not me!) that he has never tried it again since. If they are free-ranging he sidles round the garden sticking close to the fence, and avoids crossing their path. There is a 'Cat Watch', similar to the Fox watch - but I'd be more inclined to lie in wait with a water-pistol, a few soakings and he won't go near them again. I would use this on my own cat if necessary, it's harmless but would put him off attempting it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 Thank you for suggestions and the fencing is going to be great when I get round to putting it up This past couple of weeks seem to have flown by, Where I don't know. I have had an early Christmas present - the extension and an extra bar so that I can 'hinge' the top panel at the front to enable me to get in without having to crawl in through the hen door anymore. Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 You can buy a gadget similar to a Foxwatch, but specifically designed for cats. that might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Did you get one of the bars supplied by omlet? Have you got any pics of the "hinge" we are thinking of doing something similar. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 Yes I got the support arch from them because the panel is the support and if you don't clip them together with a thousand and one clips the roof is not supported. I figure if the roof is supported the panel can be closed with maybe four carrabinas. I shall add my own bar (1.5cm diameter, from graden or DIY center fixed with cord ties) horizontally where the top and bottom panel meet. The panel will be hinged to that and the bottom panel will also be attached to it (again with cord ties). This should mean that the security of the run is not compromised. Sorry no pics yet as I haven't completed it yet - but as soon as I have finished it I'll post some Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Our cat Bob daren't go near the girls. He's been chased and pecked too many times for his liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 apropos of absolutely nothing at all, I don't like cats. They take loads and loads of baby birds and I really don't understand why people keep them as pets. We had one when I was a child, called Fred. The cat was called Fred, I was called Richard, even then. It was a girl cat and I didn't like it. Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 We had one when I was a child, called Fred. The cat was called Fred, I was called Richard, even then. It was a girl cat and I didn't like it. Sorry You are barking mad Richard! made me laugh though!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 apropos of absolutely nothing at all, I don't like cats. They take loads and loads of baby birds and I really don't understand why people keep them as pets. We had one when I was a child, called Fred. The cat was called Fred, I was called Richard, even then. It was a girl cat and I didn't like it. Sorry Was called Richard? Have you changed your name then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RT Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 A neighbours cat kept trying to stalk the girls even when the run was closed. They really didn't like it and hid behind each other making loads of noise. But the more the girls backed away and hid the longer the cat stayed around... So, to turn the tables A handful of sweetcorn thrown in the general direction of the cat - followed closely by three airborne, large, clucking, flapping (and now fearless of course) hens made all the difference. It now skirts round the edge of the garden on the fence but won't come in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 A handful of sweetcorn thrown in the general direction of the cat - followed closely by three airborne, large, clucking, flapping (and now fearless of course) hens made all the difference. What a brilliant idea! My own cats are bigger chickens than my chickens but the cat from next door is a mean bruiser. If I ever catch it stalking my girls, I'll try this trick. Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 apropos of absolutely nothing at all, I don't like cats. They take loads and loads of baby birds and I really don't understand why people keep them as pets. We had one when I was a child, called Fred. The cat was called Fred, I was called Richard, even then. It was a girl cat and I didn't like it. Sorry I'm with you on that one Richard but we also had a female cat when I was little called Bert! When ma and pa discovered she was female, they changed her name to Roberta but we carried on calling her Bert! I did love her but then I was only ickle and unaware of her killer instincts The story about the corn chucked at the cat and the ensuing chicken chase was hilarious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I have a cat who visits my garden and sits looking at the girls for hours. He wears a Burberry jacket so we have christened him Burberry. He once got his head stuck in the Omlet netting.....but apart from that......the girls ignore him. I think they would give a very good account of themselves if he did have a go at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 A neighbours cat kept trying to stalk the girls even when the run was closed. They really didn't like it and hid behind each other making loads of noise. But the more the girls backed away and hid the longer the cat stayed around... So, to turn the tables A handful of sweetcorn thrown in the general direction of the cat - followed closely by three airborne, large, clucking, flapping (and now fearless of course) hens made all the difference. It now skirts round the edge of the garden on the fence but won't come in! Wonderfull. Could you not glue the sweetcorn to the cat? No didn't really mean that - although I don't like cats I wouldn't want to be cruel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 i could never imagine a man who knits, being cruel to anything i think it displays a gentle, creative side- I'll shut up now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 i could never imagine a man who knits, being cruel to anything i think it displays a gentle, creative side- I'll shut up now! I hate anything getting hurt - I get quite upset about roadkill. However I don't have a problem putting something out of its misery and have stopped to dispatch pheasants that other people have hit and that are suffereing. Those who read the forum regularly will know that although I hate the job, I don't have a problem dispatching chickens if it is absolutely necessary - and Doris unfortunately had to go a while ago as I couldn't watch her suffer. Last winter I was brought a lovely guillemott that a lady had picked up on the beach near our house. It was hypothermic and had a broken wing. There was no way it was going to survive but I tried the local RSPB bird reserve - they didn't want to know. So I had it indoors and it was going downhill so I rang the local National Trust warden. He said, put it back on the beach and let the herring gulls get it (thats how nature works he said, and it all goes round and round). I kept it for an hour or so, trying to decide what to do. I couldn't just sit an watch it die and it was distressed. I couldn't bring myself to just put it back on the beach and leave it. So I killed it and put it in the dustbin. I felt terrible. I rationalised it to myself that it was the best thing for it as it was going to die anyway, I told myself that it didn't suffer .... but I still felt really bad for days and days. I was on the Golf course last Sunday and there was a gull with a broken wing on the 12th fairway. It was there all morning, and I knew that it would die. There was nothing I could do and I felt really sad. Both my grandfathers were butchers - isn't that a funny thing eh. They'd be absolutely horrified to know that they have a vegetarian softhearted wimp for a grandson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 i could never imagine a man who knits, being cruel to anything i think it displays a gentle, creative side- I'll shut up now! I hate anything getting hurt - I get quite upset about roadkill. However I don't have a problem putting something out of its misery and have stopped to dispatch pheasants that other people have hit and that are suffereing. Those who read the forum regularly will know that although I hate the job, I don't have a problem dispatching chickens if it is absolutely necessary - and Doris unfortunately had to go a while ago as I couldn't watch her suffer. Last winter I was brought a lovely guillemott that a lady had picked up on the beach near our house. It was hypothermic and had a broken wing. There was no way it was going to survive but I tried the local RSPB bird reserve - they didn't want to know. So I had it indoors and it was going downhill so I rang the local National Trust warden. He said, put it back on the beach and let the herring gulls get it (thats how nature works he said, and it all goes round and round). I kept it for an hour or so, trying to decide what to do. I couldn't just sit an watch it die and it was distressed. I couldn't bring myself to just put it back on the beach and leave it. So I killed it and put it in the dustbin. I felt terrible. I rationalised it to myself that it was the best thing for it as it was going to die anyway, I told myself that it didn't suffer .... but I still felt really bad for days and days. I was on the Golf course last Sunday and there was a gull with a broken wing on the 12th fairway. It was there all morning, and I knew that it would die. There was nothing I could do and I felt really sad. Both my grandfathers were butchers - isn't that a funny thing eh. They'd be absolutely horrified to know that they have a vegetarian softhearted wimp for a grandson! you're making me cry now! you are so lovely DH found some sort of bird of prey trapped in the warehouse where he works , it wouldn't come out, (they're always finding wild animals in there as it's in the middle of the country, he keeps coming home with tales of rescuing bats and rabbits and ducklings etc!) anyway..... The RSPCA didn't want to know so he phoned the RSPB who, although they didn't want to know, did actually put him in touch with a local bird of prey expert who told DH what to do- basically leave the door open as it will come when it's hungry and if it doesn't, the expert said he would come out and help- anyway the advice worked. I've phoned the RSPCA in the past about an African Grey parrot in a pet shop that was in a really small cage, with no toys and had feather pulled itself bald with boredom. A real pitiful sight and they were so dis-interested is the only way to describe it!? That was a few years ago, I hope I spoke to the exception rather than the rule but it annoyed me and I won't donate to the RSPCA any more- I would rather give my cash to the BHWT these days and DH does donate via his wages to the RSPB! For anyone who does want to donate to charity by the way, doing it via your company/wages means you don't get hundreds of begging letters asking you to increase your donation all the time! I guess they don't get hold of your address that way??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 For anyone who does want to donate to charity by the way, doing it via your company/wages means you don't get hundreds of begging letters asking you to increase your donation all the time! I guess they don't get hold of your address that way??? I know it sounds dreadful but I have previously stopped regular donations to certain charities because of the way they do this. I used to hate the feeling that rather than being pleased that I was able to donate regularly they saw me as a soft touch to be tapped up for more cash every so often. This was a children's charity that sent me letters accompanied with images of distressed children. In my defence. I probably give more now via bucket collections etc because I feel guilty about cancelling my regular donation! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 There used to be a rescue place for birds near West Winch (Kings Lynn) and I once took a poorly young herring gull there. I got seriously laughed at by my mates here - herring gulls are pretty cruel birds, fairly common, and to drive a 60 mile round trip was really, I suppose, rather daft. But having taken responcibility for the bird by taking it home and trying to nurse it, I felt I had to see it through. The trouble is we might be soft, but nature isn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 For anyone who does want to donate to charity by the way, doing it via your company/wages means you don't get hundreds of begging letters asking you to increase your donation all the time! I guess they don't get hold of your address that way??? I know it sounds dreadful but I have previously stopped regular donations to certain charities because of the way they do this. I used to hate the feeling that rather than being pleased that I was able to donate regularly they saw me as a soft touch to be tapped up for more cash every so often. This was a children's charity that sent me letters accompanied with images of distressed children. In my defence. I probably give more now via bucket collections etc because I feel guilty about cancelling my regular donation! Jo same here. These letters are emotional blackmail IMO. The RSPCA even sent us a cat/dog blanket once, totally unsolicited, asking for a donation!!! We don't have a dog or a cat- so I gave the blanket to my SIL for her dog, kept the pen and recycled the letter! I refuse to feel guilty or emtionally blackmailed by these people any more. I REALLY resent the way some charities go about things. Moan over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 There used to be a rescue place for birds near West Winch (Kings Lynn) and I once took a poorly young herring gull there. I got seriously laughed at by my mates here - herring gulls are pretty cruel birds, fairly common, and to drive a 60 mile round trip was really, I suppose, rather daft. But having taken responcibility for the bird by taking it home and trying to nurse it, I felt I had to see it through. The trouble is we might be soft, but nature isn't! in the words of my hero (Billy Joel) "Don't go changing...." god, that was so corny, I'm going for my breakfast now, catch you later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 [. This was a children's charity that sent me letters accompanied with images of distressed children. In my defence. I probably give more now via bucket collections etc because I feel guilty about cancelling my regular donation! Jo Me too, I hate getting the pictures of suffering children and neglected donkeys. I'm afraid I just put them in the bin because I hate looking at them and reading them. I feel really bad about it, but similarly I don't like emotional blackmail. Its a bit like homeless people in the tube and the streets in London. I hate just walking past - but where do you stop? And how do you know that the money doesn't just go on drugs etc. (now I'm being cynical I know, but thats what you hear). So I just walk past and feel terribly mean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 The best way to deal with that problem Richard is to offer to take them for a cup of coffee/sandwich. You soon find out what the money is for! My friend used to do that - he had some unpleasant responses. On the other hand my Aunty has struck up a lovely friendship with her former Big Issue seller.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...