[skelly]

Looking for a bit of help folks. I was just pottering about in the greenhouse when I heard a commotion. I ran round to where the chooks were to find a large white cat about to have a go.
My garden is bounded by a 6ft high fence as are the girls area. They are not kept in their run from light to dusk, and have the freedom of a large area of the garden.
Is there any advice any one can give to try and keep cats away? Can a cat kill a chicken?
I would prefer to keep the garden looking normal and not have to make it look like strangeways prison lol.
It could maybe have just been a one of in the morning, as the dog was not out, I don't want to chance it though especially if a cat could kill a chook!!!

[joyfull]

sadly yes a cat can kill a chicken but it is unusual and often the chicken is young or a bantam breed. Next time you catch it near then squirt it with a water pistol - this doesn't harm the cat but is usually enough to make it go away (keep the water pistol filled up ready for any further visits until the cat gets the message) 

[skelly]

Thanks joyfull always on the ball! It aint a water pistol I would like to use, no time for cats at all!! 
Think am going to invest in some barbed wire and put it up around the whole perimeter fence.

[skelly]

ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! The b@@@@@d is back already obviously knows where the girls are now.
Don't have a water pistol just now, so made do with some small stones of the fence.

[sarah f]

get the hose out lol

[Craig69]

I had to fence them in with a net roof (same black nylon on fruit cages) to stop the cats (nextdoors  )
I would never hurt an animal but nextdoors cat is coming close to been the first
It comes down to where the hens are & messes everywhere. I've started picking it up with a trowel & throwing it back over the fence
Might be wrong but makes me feel better

[skelly]

Yeah they think my veg patch is their public toilet also!! Would barbed wire around the top of the fence be any good?

[Craig69]

Yeah they think my veg patch is their public toilet also!! Would barbed wire around the top of the fence be any good?

I'm not sure it would. 
Plus if it's around the top of the fence your neighbours might not like the look of it, & i'm sure you have to have a sign up so people can see it, so if anyone wants to climb over they can't sue you. Something to do with health & safety. 

[Alec]

Hello Skelly,Every sympathy with you on the cat situation.When i moved to this house(A corner property)It appeared to be the local drop in centre for all of the neighbourhood felines.
I had a young bantam taken by a cat,which was rescued fom its clutches by a lady driving past.Amazingly Mabel lives on 2 years later to tell the tale.
I set about just making things as awkward as possible for them and with a combination of growing prickly shrubs(Pyracanthia,holly etc)Stragetically placed mirrors,CD's,Twirly sun catchers,rubber snakes,toy reptiles.And some old carpet gripper rods on top of fences where the cats have their favourite entry points.I have won most battles not the war totally but now down to the odd one very occasionally!
I hope i've given you some ideas- Good luck and Best wishes-Alec

[Evansent]

until you can get a water pistol, an old washing up liquid bottle filled with water, does a good job!

c