chickens are home and the cat!

[Lovesswimming]

so yesterday evening my daughter and I went to our local smallholding and got 5 chickens
I might get this wrong but I think we have a rhode rock, speckledy, bluebell (is that a beechwoodblue?) a whitestar and a redstar.
they settled in well and I helped them into their coup!
names so far are; Dotty, (speckledy), Maria (white star), Gracie (bluebell). still 2 names to go.
today I noticed an escape (the run sides are 6'!)
when I started to get her back I noticed why, my cat was sunning himself and eying them up in the middle of the run!
any advice? as far as I'm aware cats aren't generally a problem with chickens (and I'm sure he would have had one by the time I got there if he was going to?).
bedding wise I picked up some easychick just to get me going as the horses are out at the minute so I don't have shavings in.
if my bluebell keeps escaping I'm guessing I either net over the top or have her wing clipped?

Congrats on the new pets! I don't think many cats are chicken killers, so unless your cat is especially big, tough and bloodthirsty, you should be ok. Re wing clipping, we do it ourselves - a local farmer showed dh how and it is quite easy. Good luck!

sorry have to disagree we have lost quite a lot of chickens over the years to local cats. don't forget that he who cannot be named will come during the day so suggest you think about a proofed run for them. no real need to clip wings imo just make sure you fox proof the run. neighbour lost 6 to the fox last night and it was only 9pm.

The run has electric polytape top middle and bottom, cat must have been very agile to get round it! I did discover a home that has now been sorted, so here's hoping :-)

Just a little update, cat has been nowhere near after the 1st day maybe they sorted him out! They're getting on so far, no issues and are roosting all together, I'm getting a white egg most days (from the white star) and 1 or 2 more each day overall (from the other 4). They now take themselves to bed and are quite tame! Loving it! Wish I could post a photo

We clipped all our chooks' wings when they first arrived, but by the time they grow back the chickens have worked out where their garden ends (they are completely free range) so we don't bother. Next door have 6 proper hunting cats and not one has ever gone for a chicken.

I have bantams which are a lovely size for a cat to hunt. My cat used to stalk the hens until the rooster chased her off. She's very wary of all the chickens now especially Handsome Boy..

I'm just thinking of keeping chickens. I have been offered 3 Peking bantams to borrow to see how I go on (complete with coop and attached run). I would let them out in the garden while I'm home but worried about the fox that comes through my garden regularly, sometimes in the afternoon! I'm also worried about my two dogs, they are not nasty but one barks at anything including birds that are flying over! They have never seen a chicken let alone share the garden with one. Does anyone have any advice??

Pekins are lovely. If you have a day-time fox and dogs I would keep them in a secure run (with an antidig skirt or base) unless you are physically in the garden with them.

Yes I'd keep them in the run with a daytime fox. As for your dogs what type are they? Do they have good recall? Will they 'leave' ? If so you'd be ok. If not it will depend. My friends dog ignored me and picked one of mine up and ran off with her, thankfully she survived. My 2 wouldn't as long as I am around. The cat now isn't interested! Must have just been 1st day interest, he sticks to rabbits and mice now (oh and little birds!) next doors patterdale would eat any chicken she could catch and she does come through so I have them in a 5m x 5m run now. I'd love them to free range but I'd be risking it so don't. Only have 4 in there at the minute

Thank you both for your very helpful replies. I think I will give them a go and keep them in the run for now. Good idea to add a skirt to the run, that will be quite easy to do. My dogs are American Cockers and hopefully will be fine. They are friendly towards other dogs, just never seen a chicken.
Thanks again for your advice.

Hi, I'm not sure how different American cockers are to our working cockers, very intelligent working dogs bred for flushing birds! My 2 love chasing birds and only don't because of their training. If yours are the same then teach them (you may well have done this already) to sit and leave when you throw a ball. If you can call them mid retrieve or stop them from going for the ball you have thrown until you say then you will have no problems with the chickens. I'd advise this even if the chickens are in the run as my chickens get excited when I appear and try to come out when I open it. The one that was picked up by my friends dog came out a couple of steps then saw the dog panicked and ran the wrong way before I could stop it. The dog then ignored me and went for a play at the chickens expense! She's a very friendly non aggressive dog but bred to retrieve and not yet fully trained. The chickens are great, I love having them, enjoy!