I have five Rhode Island Reds that we handled a lot when we first got them to try and get them used to us being around, and they were very mild-mannered and liked to be around us. They are now three or four weeks old and will sometimes run from me or not come even when I call them anymore.
What really bothered me is this: tonight I have them in a new (to them) coop and I was having to pick them up one by one and show them the ramp and how to get into the coop. For some reason they would not come to me when I called them and when I tried grabbing them a couple of them ran away. I am trying to have slow movements and, as previously stated, they were handled a lot for the first week or two that we had them so I figured they are used to it by now. What really bothered me was that one of them even started pecking me. Now it was late at night and I had my flashlight out, but I always come out with my light when closing them in for the night and I was talking in a calm voice.
What could be the issue here?
What really bothered me is this: tonight I have them in a new (to them) coop and I was having to pick them up one by one and show them the ramp and how to get into the coop. For some reason they would not come to me when I called them and when I tried grabbing them a couple of them ran away. I am trying to have slow movements and, as previously stated, they were handled a lot for the first week or two that we had them so I figured they are used to it by now. What really bothered me was that one of them even started pecking me. Now it was late at night and I had my flashlight out, but I always come out with my light when closing them in for the night and I was talking in a calm voice.
What could be the issue here?