Cat Attack!

Since today was nearly 60 degrees out, I thought I'd take my serama chick out and let him take a look at the outside since he's been in the brooder and utility room ever since he was born. He greatly enjoyed hopping around the yard, but being a little quicker at this age than I ever anticipated, he managed to get under the porch.

I was very worried and was looking for a way under when in an instant... BOOM, something struck him from deep underneath porch. The poor chicken was on his side, more stunned than anything, and near in panic. About three feet away from him was our cat, Mr. Binks. Realizing a more deadly attack was imminent, I ripped the wooden lattice clean off our porch, scaring Mr. Binks away, and I literally dove underneath, grabbing the poor serama who was en route to the crawl space.

A careful inspection of him reveals no punctures, breaks, or any physical distress whatsoever. We were lucky this time; very lucky. This little serama is the first chicken I've ever hatched from an egg in my homemade incubator, so he's a little special to me and I would have been devastated, along with my wife and kids, if the little guy would have died.

I guess this little incident is a real eye opener that I may have a problem on my hands when it comes to free ranging my chickens. Perhaps the only solution is to get rid of Mr. Binks, however, I've seen other cats hanging around too. We'll see what happens, but if I start losing birds, I may have to get rid of Binks and lay a few cat traps (the humane ones; I promise!).