Why don't cats kill hens ?????

[Ali]

(and to do with rabbits!)

I've been thinking of late to let Ian the Rabbit outside in the hen run (paddock) - its well rabbit fenced.

That got me thinking - at my first home home (the growing up one) we always had hens completely free range and we had about 15 cats (was a farm). None of the cats touched any of the hens however the cats did kill any rabbit we had as kids.... and indeed any rabbit any cat came across....

Why is this?

[bisdu]

Coz hens are fierce and scarey - obviously

[Deleted]

Our cats never attacked chickens or rabbits Ali, the rabbits being fenced in their own run but we often saw the cats in with them (I have a photo somewhere of one of our cats with a rabbit and a guinea pig). What I would watch out for is a fouine (weasel/polecat) getting into the run, one of our rabbits died when one did, though it may well have been through shock as we couldn't find a mark on him.

[tinkerbell]

They sometimes do,Ali.especially young ones or chicks.

[Em]

Depends on the cat.......

[Deleted]

Ali, having said I had a photo of a cat and rabbit, getting along harmoniously I can't find one...However, here's one of our cat and a hen (there's a guinea pig in that run as well)

Attachment Deleted

[Ali]

Mmmm I wouldn't trust the local cats with Ian the Rabbit....

I wonder if I should take the risk and let ItR wander freely in the hen paddock instead of being in her hutch?