I just got 4 hens. Two 10 week old, an 11 week and a 14 week. They all seem to be afraid of me and don't seem very interested in the scratch or garden treAts I give them. They just stick to there all flock food. Will this just take time? Also any advise on raising my hens to be friendly and starting from 10-14weeks in age? What age do they start laying? I can't wait for our first egg!
Time and patience. They may not have been handled or around people much, so just go slow. They won't be in your pocket right away! Keep working with the scratch, maybe toss some and walk away so they feel free to come check it out without you right there. Once they figure out it's good, they'll tolerate you being closer. Same with scraps. I make a high pitched "chick chick chick" when I feed treats, it mimics the sound a hen makes for her babies or a roo makes to call his ladies for treats. Depending on your breeds, they'll start laying around 5-6 months old.
We got 7 8week old chicks and their mama a few months ago, and none of the chicks or the mom would get near me, but today when I went up to give them treats they were just about standing on my shoes...If I walk towards them they walk away of course, but when I have the food they don't mind me at all...they come running in fact, so just give them time...they used to dodge the thrown scratch...but not anymore.
