[madcat]

I think we need a photo of the perfect chicken keeper as modelled by 8doubles.  Designer PJs, wet wellies, poncho, hat, holster etc, cigar ....... ultra cool   ...   

and also one of the look on the chucks and the neighbours faces!   

[jinty1911]

Go ahead, punk errr cat, make my day   
Jinty

[Colin of Oxford]

But it may not be all bad news.
It is often said that foxes will give a wide berth to territory that is well patrolled by cats.
This certainly seems to be the case here.
The adjacent garden's lawn is scarred all over where (I think) foxes have been digging up the turf and moss looking for worms.  The damage is not the same as is done by badgers.
But the digging stops at the boundary where there is a well-trodden path used by our cats to go hunting for rodents in the field beyond.
Foxes use the field edge as a regular route but we have never seen one inside the 'cats own territory'.
Also take heart from history - look at any picture of a conventional farmyard and you will almost certainly see chickens and cats in peaceful coexistence.

[penninehillbilly]

It is often said that foxes will give a wide berth to territory that is well patrolled by cats.
We believe a fox took our last cat.
the replacement showed far too much interest in hens and ducks, I looked at the prices of water pistols and thought twice about it (can you still get a basic toy water pistol or just expensive 'cannons'?).
The hens, he now seems to steer clear of, the ducks I think he teases because they stand quacking at him

[Jeanette]

We have cats in our garden but still have foxes.