On this day 4 years ago. The funny part is I discussed this with the rooster just yesterday. I was reminding him how he and Precious fought off the hawk and now he is scared of his own shadow and lets the other roosters bully him. My dear Precious is no longer with us but some of her daughters are just as fierce as she was. One, named Little Red Hen, is raising her second batch of chicks now. She sat on eggs with her other two half grown babies with her and hatched 5. She has added 3 bigger chicks whose Mama thought they were big enough to be on their own. Not Little Red Hen, she just added them to her 5 and still oversees the first two who are practically adults. I think Little Red Hen would manage the entire flock if allowed. The Precious gene runs deep.
Now we have had the BEAR for about a month. So I am doing the Bear Run more than the Hawk Hustle. I am 4 years older and my hustle just isn’t what it used to be.
4 years ago
There has just been too much wildlife at my house lately, and not the fun kind. The hawks have been causing lots of issues at our house after the chickens. And yes, I know they are doing what they do to survive and I could keep the chickens closed up and safe from the hawks. I do have netting over the runs and the chickens do know to get under the netting. But sometimes, a hawk beats the chicken to the netting and I lose one. That happened last Saturday while I was away. During the week, as I am here, I usually hear the commotion and the dogs and I run to the rescue. I do the Hawk Hustle across the yard with dogs in tow. One day last week, I yelled that something was after the chickens and I was on my way. Gene was working so he opened the window to watch me be eaten by the bear, attacked by the coyote, etc. It makes recovery with the shovel easier if he knows my general direction. About the time I got to the gate, the hawk took off into the trees. Gene and I both were amazed at the size of the Red Tailed Hawk. He is eating well somewhere. No casualties. Yesterday, I went to the front porch and heard the alarms. As I ran through the house, getting loosened up for the Hawk Hustle, Gene joined me, in the chase, not the Hustle. I beat him to the gate and as I rounded the chicken lot toward the new Chicken Taj Mahal, Gene yelled that something was in the Taj Mahal. A Cooper’s Hawk was actually in the run with the chickens, flying like crazy against the sides of the run trying to find his way out. The door was open and my theory was he would not fly through the door but I guess he will. He was flying against the wire sides of the run, with a rooster and a small black chicken chasing him on the ground. Now, understand this chicken is a small black bantam hen named Precious. We have had her about as long as any and she is the best Mama Chicken in the world. She raises everyone’s babies. Last year she raised 13 and only one was hers. This year she tried to take care of two injured chicks but lost both so I bought her some. She is raising 6 babies. Well that little black hen was so ruffled up, she appeared to be twice her size and she was mad. She was after that hawk and me in there with them. The hawk got on the ground in the corner and Precious had him pinned and I am on top of both of them, thinking he is going to kill Precious. About that time one of her babies came out from behind a bag of top soil and ran inside the chicken house, so I knew why Precious was fighting the hawk. I am trying to decide if I pick up Precious will the Hawk go after her in my arms. Gene, who later says he thought I was going to pick up the Hawk, is yelling you know that Hawk will tear you to pieces. Not too far from me is a piece of a 2X4 that Gene has left from the ongoing construction of the run. So I picked it up and pushed the Hawk to the side and he flew out the end of the run. Precious ran to her babies inside the house and there was quiet for a little while. Wonder why I get 16000 to 20000 steps per day on my Fitbit? I want it to count arm motions when I am after the hawks. When Gene and I were telling Isaiah about the hawk, Gene said don’t fool with Precious’ babies.
I’d pay good money for your book Kathy!
You literally HAVE to write a book!!!
And I absolutely need to come visit the Chicken Taj Mahal!
Oh my Kathy you are a story teller. I can actually envision everything that happened. What a Woman.
Kathy Duty Harris, I think another reason you like Precious so much is that she can turn into a wild woman just like you do when needed. Two peas in a pod…
Twyla Wright Gendron That’s exactly what I was thinking Twyla. I’d recommend never messing with either Precious OR Kathy’s babies. No way, no how!!!
You need to write a book Kathy you are full of adventures 
Another chapter for your book! It would be a best seller!
Now I know more about how my grandparents, great grandparents, etc. lived. Thank you!
Love all the adventures of chicken farming. Glad there were no casualties.
You’re beginning to sound like The Real McCoys.
Tammy Mitchell Good one. Let’s not leave out Ma and Pa Kettle. Ever see them at the Cavalier?
William Duncan oh yeah.
Forget the book. At this point, we need a movie.
I wonder if there’s not some way to block the open end of the run to flying hawks but leave enough of an opening at the bottom for the chickens to come and go, assuming the chickens don’t try to fly through.
That is the plan. Gene is building a door with an automatic door for them. We have too many projects.
You DO have too many projects, lol! But you also have priorities, so that’s okay.
Kathy Duty Harris wildlife management. ought to be a cost share program for that somewhere….
Kathy Duty Harris Automatic doors are the bomb. And since we put three fake owls with rotating heads out in the yard we have had much less predation from hawks. We move them every two or three days.
Alyce Quinn I have two now. Just adding one to the run as well as the houses.
Alyce Quinn my owl has not deterred but I have a friend with fake crows. I am going that route.
Left the Holler but Not Too Far 
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