[patmci]

I bought 3 broilers a few days ago and despite my best efforts to keep them safe e.g putting a roof over there enclosure my cat got in and killed them. I am just wondering would a cat kill a point of lay chicken or would that be to big for it. Also was told a gander might keep the cat away.

Regards Patrick

[aparker155]

Generally a cat will be frightened of fully-grown hens especially more than one of them - my hens even try to chase off my labrador. However, if you intend to keep hens you really need a secure area for them to stop other predators such as fox and badger otherwise they won't last very long!

[doganjo]

I've always had cats when I've had my ducks and chickens and never a cross word.  But I do have a cockerel, maybe that helps, and I've only rarely had chicks, but kept them in a dog cage when I did so the cats couldn't get near them.  Once they were bigger than pigeon size the cats weren't interested.  My birds are penned up so the dogs can't get them though and allowed out to roam for a couple of hours a day.

[patmci]

I am going to put a 7 feet high wall of high tensile chicken wire. Do you think i need a roof net.

Regards Patrick

[doganjo]

SEVEN FEET!  Good grief! 

I shouldn't bother.  My cats would scale that in no time.  Stick to normal 5 or 6 feet and put a roof on - or get a feisty cockerel!

[patmci]

I have now been told a normal 4 foot fence of high tensile chicken wire and 3 strands of live electric fence to stop the cats getting in and chickens getting out.

Regards Patrick

[shetlandpaul]

and they are free range. we have a number of croft cats walking through our flocks they even go into the byre but they are only after mice. i would imagine the cat just needs to know that they are not part its diet.

[doganjo]

Mmm, not sure about that, my cats kill for fun, they are fed at home and have huge appetites.  They do snack on the baby rabbits they catch though.  What age and size were your broilers?  He maybe just saw an easy kill.  I would try the goose or a cockerel

[shetlandpaul]

mm the goose would see off the cat but then it will see off most other things to. the cockeral should kick its but. ours went after the gander after the chicken killing. its going to be a tough cat the takes on a cross full sized cockeral.

[little blue]

We had some fortnight old chicks - the cats were v interested while they still made that cheeping/chirupping noise.  Once their voices had broken (!) the cats werent so bothered. mind u they were bigger, tho only bantems.

Foxes will likely find your broilers, whether you think they're around the area or not. Same as neighbourhood dogs, so yes, stick a lid on!

[CameronS]

Poor you,

we never had a problem with the cats going after the gens, possibly because because the cockerel and rabbits chased them off, or the fact both cats were older, try the goose i saw one once chasing o dog around a farm, a cats smaller.

[jameslindsay]

Poor you,

we never had a problem with the cats going after the gens, possibly because because the cockerel and rabbits chased them off, or the fact both cats were older, try the goose i saw one once chasing o dog around a farm, a cats smaller.



Off subject sorry - Scottish Water have a Pump out the back on our land which they reguarly have problems with. This afternoon one of their engineers came into the hotel and said he was going out the back! I said that's fine and he just stood there. I asked what the problem was and he (a grown man) said "but there are 2 geese out there, will I be ok? It did make me laugh.

[shetlandpaul]

my oldest daughter would agree she was getting out of the car and the gander got her coat sleeve and was swinging off it. then the old cockeral who aways attacks her spured her back then a young cockeral did her leg. this was within 20 seconds. its odd the daughter does not like helping on the croft.

[northfifeduckling]

Did you actually see if it was your cat? I am very surprised, as my cat was always very cautious around the birds. She may have a go at ducklings or chicks on their own, but adults?