Cats.... sad news

I would highly recommend a rescue dog " don't breed or buy when so many die, adopt a dog one by one until there are none"  growing up we had three rescue dogs the latest one Atom ( my profile pic) was just 6 months old and found as a stray he already knew sit and paw when my parents got him and is a lovely easy to train dog  before that we had a beagle and a Irish wolfhound x whippet. There are plenty of puppies in rehoming centres too when we went to pick Atom there was even a six week old pup that was found! If I didn't work full time I would have a dog mans best friend and all!  

oooh that sounds interesting.... will look it up unless you have a link... i could put that on the top of the aviary perhaps as that and the chook house are where he's headed all the time.... mmm maybe h'll get the message that way!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=heron+deterrent&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=11806008834&ref=pd_sl_8w4oqyktp1_b

smud6ie

Our Penny is a rescued lab/springer who is nearly 10 now, we got her when she was 11 months old.

She will chase and dig up rats, mice and moles, and chases the cats from 2 doors up, but she comes into the chicken runs with us and is quite nervous, as some of the chickens we had 3 years ago used to peck her nipples and she always remembers that!  Shes walks VERY close to us! 

The only time she growled at a chicken was when it was free ranging the garden and tried to peck her bone!   

I totally hear what you're saying. I am "fit" and active i'm in my early 30s. I had a car accident which has left me with central neuropathic pain and a frozen shoulder.
I am not considering the dog purely as a solution to the cat situation. It is something i have considered but put to the back of my mind. But i have family and friends all of whom have also suggested it and said they will help otu if required. I can walk a small dog and withstand that being "untrained" a very large dog that could jar me i could do but it would possibly hurt!
I see the dog as a solution to my cat problem in some respects but also as a companion for myself. The cat i have across hte road i do not thing will give up. It is hard to explain but yeah he's scary!
I will strongly consider what you say about the dog and cat accidents also. i really don't know what to do now! i would dearly love a dog... and if it aids the chicken's survival against the cat, all the better.... but it sounds like i might have to give up and just remain as i am stood in the kitchen keeping an eye on them.

Thank you Carla...
I agree i need to get the right dog for my situation after all the chickens and cat were here first! Ultimately i want no harm to come to any of my animals, and that is the most important thing! Their welfare is paramount!

Hi Kirstie,

You could try feeding the cat and get it to think of you and your pets as family.  Think it might be easier to train the cat than chase it.