[Chicken_House]

 Hi, we're looking to keep chickens (only 4 to start) and wondered if anyone had any tried and tested ideas how to introduce them to our cats for best results and teach our two cats that they're not for eating?

Our cats are outdoor cats although have always been used to the city life of London where they only had to deal with other cats (most of which they are scared of!). We'd like to have chickens that can roam the garden and paddock area during the day and I'm hoping that they'll prove too scary for the cats to approach but as our cats are known for catching wild birds (including a wood pigeon) if you've any ideas how to introduce them to each other and teach them chasing chickens is bad please let me know?
Or should I be more concerned about the cats, as I know some chickens are quite happy to stand their ground?!
All ideas appreciated!

[Clansman]

Most cats won't bother with a decent sized chicken, I usually find they'll stay out well out of their way.

If you're getting chicks then keep them penned up out of reach of your cats until they are bigger.

I don't know if you could teach a cat not to chase a very small bird like a bantam, maybe.

Failing that get a big cockerel to protect the girls 

[Stereo]

Our cats never bothered them. I think they are scared of them. To be honest, I would put money on the chicken if push came to shove.

[Q]

I have had to rescue more than one cat that has ventured into the chicken pen. Outdoor cats too & not mine.

The chickens keep clear of our own cats but will give the dog a quick peck if he gets close enough.

I would get your chickens in and penned up first then just watch what the cat does.
There is bound to be interest but just see if the cat tries to get to them while you are on standby.

There doesn't seem to be masses of stories of cats attacking chickens.

[Thyme]

My cats are dedicated hunters who occasionally even kill rabbits and squirrels, but they've been fine with my chickens.  In fact it's not uncommon to see them sitting over the chicken feed, surrounded by chickens, waiting for the next squirrel to take a chance at it.

I hatched my own chickens and the cats were very interested in them when the hatchlings first went into their protected run outside, but by the time the birds were big enough to start free ranging the cats had got used to the idea that they weren't prey.  Sometimes they'll run through a group of chickens just to see them flap and squawk but they don't try to hunt them.  And I have a little call duck who currently lives with the chickens (I think the chickens are keeping her as a pet) and the cats don't bother her either, even though she's as small as other things they hunt.

So my advice is, if you start with grown chickens they'll probably be big enough that the cats won't try to hunt them.  If you start with something smaller, then you might keep them in a protected run for a while so the cats get used to them as not-prey, and see you taking care of them.

[lord flynn]

my cat catches many things-adult chickens are not included and he actually hunts down in the chicken pens. I cannot trust him with chicks/growers though-it's not a problem as I have to keep them netted up until about 14 weeks anyway thanks to sparrow hawks, crows etc.

[Eve]

I've lost several birds to cats, including fully grown ones and not just bantams.   

[Rosemary]

Our cats are hunters and although they might have had a look at the hens, they've never bothered with them. Small chicks would be fair game I reckon, but not full grown hens.

[in the hills]

Our cat is a good little hunter and takes decent sized young rabbits, squirrels, etc but never taken any interest in the chickens ..... even pekin growers which were smaller than pigeons etc that she would take. I think that most 'know' that poultry is different.

I wouldn't trust mine with chicks and keep them in until they are feathering nicely.

[Kimbo]

I have recently introduced 3 feral cats to our home where our hens free range for most of the day. The youngest cat is the only one interested in the hens but she keeps well away from them. our 2 Light Sussex took our naughtiest spaniel on and beat him very quickly

[simone]

Our cat will stalk hens if they fly over the electric fencing but he's never actually tried to get in there, not sure if he's brave enough to have a go but I wouldn't like to risk it.

[Chicken_House]

Thank you all for the feedback.....watch and see in the initial instance and be prepared to scare the cats if naughty behaviour starts and then hopefully the chickens will be to scary for them to bother with.
Roll on chicken keeping, very excited!!

[Kimbo]

buy a water pistol, then the cat doesn't know its you who squirted him!

[waddy]

Our cat has been scared to go into the back garden since she was pecked on the nose by one of the local pheasant cocks when she tried her luck with him.


 
Helen

[HesterF]

When we first got chickens, one of the cats did spend a long time prowling up and down outside the run but he can now get in and has never gone for them (but he is scared of the cockerels). I'm more surprised by the fact he hasn't come back with one of our neighbour's bantams though - he does routinely bring in adult rabbits and birds as big as seagulls so I don't know why he doesn't go for them (relieved though).