A young woman I know quite well has just moved in next door with a 6 month old cat who was supposed to be kept indoors. She escaoed this morning, had a go at my four hens and scattered them out of their run. The cat was recaptured and I finally found my four spooked but unhurt hens and have shut them in the very small but secure night time run for them to calm down. Has anyone any advice about spooking the cat so SHE is afraid of THEM? My own cat runs a mile if she's silly enough to get in the run and they approach her!
Help Please
- Thread starter Louise
- Start date
Hi Louise,
I think maybe you could have a bigger problem lurking here than your neighbour's cat. If a cat can get in easily, so can other, bigger, more threatening predators, especially foxes. I'm afraid the only answer to this that will give you peace of mind is a run that is big enough for them to be happy in when not being supervised out in the garden, (minimum of 2 square metres of floor space each) and is secure enough to give you peace of mind that you wont come back one day and find a fox has killed them. There are several horror stories about foxes on here and other poultry forums, it does happen, and even if you think your area is free of foxes or possibly loose dogs, you can never be sure thery are safe unless you protect them. I think its your responsibility to do this, and although there are several solutions to deterring one particular cat, (try lying in wait with a hosepipe or large water pistol) it's not the whole answer. It's just in a cat's nature to explore, chase, and possibly harass, if not actually kill, your neighbour can't keep her cat in the house for ever, and there will be other cats around anyway......
I think maybe you could have a bigger problem lurking here than your neighbour's cat. If a cat can get in easily, so can other, bigger, more threatening predators, especially foxes. I'm afraid the only answer to this that will give you peace of mind is a run that is big enough for them to be happy in when not being supervised out in the garden, (minimum of 2 square metres of floor space each) and is secure enough to give you peace of mind that you wont come back one day and find a fox has killed them. There are several horror stories about foxes on here and other poultry forums, it does happen, and even if you think your area is free of foxes or possibly loose dogs, you can never be sure thery are safe unless you protect them. I think its your responsibility to do this, and although there are several solutions to deterring one particular cat, (try lying in wait with a hosepipe or large water pistol) it's not the whole answer. It's just in a cat's nature to explore, chase, and possibly harass, if not actually kill, your neighbour can't keep her cat in the house for ever, and there will be other cats around anyway......
That might be a good idea! my dog has been well trained by a firm peck on his nose when he first met a determined hen! I don't actually think a cat is a very big problem, and as you are an experienced keeper you'll know all about local conditions. It's just that many people new to poultry keeping don't realise that foxes can be devastating, sometimes with tragic results. Hope it all goes well. What sort of birds do you have?
chrismahon
Well-known member
I've found a Supersoaker water pistol very effective Louise. But as Marigold says it won't work for foxes which can arrive at any time. A secure compound or run is the only option. You've just had a lucky escape as it could have been a fox.
Oh Louise do I sympathise. We live in an enclosed garden in the country and a fox would have to be desperate to get in - in 30 years I have never known of foxes in our garden. I know how vile foxes are and have seen the destruction that one fox can do in more open enclosures.
New neighbour has, just like you 6 month old cat. It is driving me, the hens and our dogs round the bend. It crawls through a leylandii hedge and stalks them in their run. The hens are being harassed, the dogs go nuts whenever the cat is in the garden and if I say the C.. word all hell breaks loose as the dogs think they have to rush out and catch it. I am off to buy the biggest water pistol I can find this morning!!!!
New neighbour has, just like you 6 month old cat. It is driving me, the hens and our dogs round the bend. It crawls through a leylandii hedge and stalks them in their run. The hens are being harassed, the dogs go nuts whenever the cat is in the garden and if I say the C.. word all hell breaks loose as the dogs think they have to rush out and catch it. I am off to buy the biggest water pistol I can find this morning!!!!
Whilst having every sympathy for your plight, Morrici, I think it would be more effective to get some chicken wire and block up the holes under the Leylandii hedge. I hope your fox-free state continues, but maybe a fox could get into your neighbours garden and also crawl under the hedge?
We all think we are safe, until the first time happens. Like you, I'm lucky enough at present to be still waiting for my first fox attack.
We all think we are safe, until the first time happens. Like you, I'm lucky enough at present to be still waiting for my first fox attack.
Thanks Marigold but the cat doesn't get under the hedge. There is a 6 foot feather edge boarded fence and the Leylandii is behind the fence. The cat climbs up the trees, along the top of the fence which is 1/2 an inch wide and drops onto the roof of the hen hut, it then walks along a 1 inch rail which is horizontally fixed above a five foot high chain link fence which is buried into the ground. The cat sits the other side of the chain link fence and harasses the chickens. I would defy any fox to do this unless foxes have become super agile! 
We also have only two chickens who are put to bed every night. We have two dogs. Our neighbours have dogs. The dogs have access to outside at all time. If rooks, wood pigeons or the CAT come into the garden the dogs go bonkers. I have a particular dislike of foxes but without tempting fate believe we are pretty safe. Hope so.......
We also have only two chickens who are put to bed every night. We have two dogs. Our neighbours have dogs. The dogs have access to outside at all time. If rooks, wood pigeons or the CAT come into the garden the dogs go bonkers. I have a particular dislike of foxes but without tempting fate believe we are pretty safe. Hope so.......
