[Hevxxx99]

I have a very playful young cat who thinks it's great fun to chase the feather dusters that roam freely in my garden.  it scares the bejesus out of the hens, but she doesn't otherwise harm them. 

I could confine the hens to barracks - they have a nice big run - but I'd rather not.  can anyone think of some method of discouraging the cat from chasing the hens? 

[fsmnutter]

Let a broody hen rear some chicks, she'll soon teach the cat the rules of etiquette around chickens!!

[SallyintNorth]

One day that cat will have a mouse, and the hens will take it.  After that, there will be respect.  Ask me how I know

[ellied]

I've 3 cats who were all adult when the first hens arrived - there has never been any question who is top of the pecking order from day one.  So no idea how it happened but it does happen somehow.

[shygirl]

ours grew out of it.
get a cockeral

[waterbuffalofarmer]

and talking of cockerels I have one for sale atm, free to good home, can't say fairer than that

[Hevxxx99]

Bit of a stretch from me sadly...

Thanks for the ideas.  No broodies at present, but I may be able to borrow one, or a cockerel.

[Marches Farmer]

Get a cockerel around two years old, preferably a large fowl, that's used to running with hens.

[Hevxxx99]

I'm going to have to do something serious! She came home with a pheasant last night! 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

You could just get rid of her and buy in a castrated male cat instead. I know it may sound harsh but she sounds terrible the way she is terrorizing stuff. On the other hand you could buy a kitten or two and bring them up with the chickens so theyre fine with them? I have a cat and he is an absoloute darling! I hope that you can resolve this soon

[Anke]

I'm going to have to do something serious! She came home with a pheasant last night! 

Well that's Sunday dinner sorted isn't it? 

Sorry don't really have a solution, as mine are in a run and all (adult neutered) tomcat does is stare at them from the outside...

[Hevxxx99]

Mine are in the run for the time being.  I'm going to try to find a big grumpy cockerel, but I suspect even then she'll simply avoid him and still chase the hens. 

She isn't a big cat at all but was from a feral mum. Wish she'd stick to the job of hunting mice and rats!

[sabrina]

I have two cats and 3 dogs. The hens chase them if they even think of stepping out of line and that includes my Jack Russell. 

[Steph Hen]

You could just get rid of her and buy in a castrated male cat instead.

Had a neutered male cat that started taking half and 3/4 grown chickens... Along with moles, squirrels and rats.  Rehoming your cat may or may not be an option, but I'm not sure a male will be less likely to get at them :-/   That said, I think it's quite rare for cats to have a go at chickens.  See if you can borrow a cock and I hope it works out for you.

[Hevxxx99]

I'm on the lookout for a fiesty cockerel to borrow now. The only problem being that the last one we had attacked us more than anything else. Ecept perhaps full feedsacks.  He hated them.