I’ve lost count of how many non-chickeny people have asked me if “Cats bother chickens?”

well, in our household.. not one bit!

the cats get all excited when they hear the newly hatched chicks a-cheepin’ and are desperate to get in there and have a good look.  Obviously, this would be quite traumatic for baby chicks… so its rare that they manage to get in!  When the sneaky tabby cat did her “invisible” trick (still have no idea how she got in the spare room to the brooder) we were soon alerted by the mass hysteria of 7 Derbyshire Redcaps (very flighty birds) and 2 frizzle Pekins (very brave… when behind a Redcap!)   The noise and fluttering must have startled the cat so much, she shot out when I opened the door, and disappeared off down the garden.

Today, one of the kittens has been talking to Gladys, the Boss of the Warrens.   No, really.  Little tiny Alfie has been strolling up to the hen house, right up to Gladys and miaowing gently.  He is a very small kitten, about a third of the size of the big hen, so I was intrigued to see how she would respond.

Gladys drew herself to her full height… and clucked back at him!  Alfie backed away the first time…. then climbed up the wire to try again.   So it looks like they’re going to be friends.

So on the whole, cats don’t bother the chickens… and the chickens aren’t bothered by them!