Cat vs. Chickens

20 years ago

Here south of KC we had a beautiful weekend. I decided it was time to give the four month old pullets a "free ranging" experience. I was kind of worried and feared for my little hens because our cat would walk around their pen and stalk them, just waiting for the opportunity to pounce. I didn't doubt his skills with all of the mice/rat/bird trophies he has brought me. But once he was face to face with the girls he quickly changed is mind, found a place to roll in the dirt and soak up some sun. Totally relaxed and unaware of his surrounding he fell into a deep sleep. When one little hen pecked at his tail he went straight up in the air at least a foot and looked like the cartoon with legs extended out to the sides and all hair standing on end. It was really comical and just desserts for the naughty cat.

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Comments (3)

jimdaz
20 years ago
What a great story! I can just see your cat going in the air.

I have one old cat that begs to go out with the chickens. He can spend the entire day in the pen with them. Sleeps on the nest boxes, and my hens are used to him. Don't know why he enjoys that so much.
rusty6
20 years ago
My seven cats and flock of free range bantams live in harmony in the same barn all the time. The reason is that they have been raised together and the cats learned at an early age that you don't get too close to a bantam hen with chicks. That respect carries forward for the rest of their lives it seems. The only cat trouble I have had is when a stray comes on the scene and I did lose a hen that time.
Otherwise every morning cats and bantam chickens can be seen circled around the food dish all competing to see who can eat up the most mash in the shortest time.
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BelindaM
20 years ago
My chickens can not be free ranged because of the dangers of stray dogs, but I also have many ferral and tame cats that love to be around the chicken yard. I have a huge run area that we covered in bird netting to keep out hawks and climbing critters. My many cats use it as a huge hammock and lay on top of the chicken run. We let the chickens out to range on times and the cats have never thought about a quick chicken dinner. They seem to be fasinated for about two minutes,and then get bored quickly. The cats do object to my scraps going to the chickens first (who thought cat's like bread??).