chick not letting me catch her

[16Chickens Keeper]

So I've taken a liking to one of my chicks and have been handling her since she popped out her egg, and have been slowly gaining her trust. So far if I put her on me shell lay on my shoulder and when I call her to give her a treat shell come but lately if I try to pick her up (calmly) she won't let me/ starts to run. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Matilda Belle]

Most chickens don't really care for people, at least mine don't unless I have a bucket full of mealworms. They are the prey and we are the predator. They will never fully trust us because their instincts tell them not to.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Just keep working with her!

As they get older they seem to go through a phase where everything is scary to them!

Then they normally end up realizing that not everything is out to get them.

I’ve been through this with mine many times. And mine are all extremely friendly now!

 

[Beccazon]

How old is she?

 

[SueT]

Most chickens don't like to be picked up. Keep offering treats and calling her, and encourage her to hop onto your hand or lap, and just don't pick her up at all for a while. When you finally do, put your hand under her rather than over her. Hold her suspended for a couple seconds then put her back down.

 

[gtaus]

I have not spent much time trying to tame my chickens, but I don't really consider my backyard flock as pets, but not livestock either. So mostly they ignore me unless I show up with something good to eat. They will eat out of my hand, but that is about all I have worked on. They don't like it when I pick them up, and they run away from me if I try to catch them. That's OK, they know lots of things like to eat them.

As my chicks got older, they were less fearful of me. They will approach me if I have food for them, but otherwise they are content to keep their distance. I have read that is possible to tame most chickens, but you just have to work at it with them. Some breeds are naturally more docile than others. Good luck.

 

[16Chickens Keeper]

How old is she?

She's about a week over a month old

 

[SueT]

She's about a week over a month old

well, a teenager then. They often rebel, it's a natural process of losing dependence on mom. Your girl will come around as she grows up.

 

[chrissynemetz]

It's natural Just keep offering her treats and hang in there, she'll come back around to herself again after a while

 

[cassie]

What breed is she? Some breeds are calmer than others and some will be flighty no matter what you do.