Chicken finds it annoying when i try to pick her up!!

[nuthatched]

Well how do i pick them up without making it hard for them to breathe?

If you have to pick them up, support the feet and keel.
Otherwise, avoid it. Chickens generally aren't that type of animal.

 

[2 Acres]

Mine hate being picked up. But if I sit quietly with them they gather around me and a couple will come up onto the arm of my chair. Maybe even my knee. And if they believe I have sunflower seeds inside my jacket then a couple will crawl across my body to try and get in under my jacket.
I try not to scare them by forcing them to be picked up. But they seem to like me and often just hang out and chat to me.

I handled my chickens from day 1. I have a stackable crate that allows the chickens to grow with it.

Once they got used to me they would hop on my arm and perch and use my arm as a roosting bar.

Or... I would hold my hand out for them to sit on. Handling the chicks is necessary for bonding and trust.

Very recently I had some severe weather roll in. (70 mph winds). The chickens panicked and started to run. I literally waved my hand to the coop, and they went inside.

Give it some time for you and the chickens to get to know each others idiosyncrasies. The more time you spend with them, the easier it gets.

My now gone Guinea Fowl were the same way. Once in my lap they would sit content in my lap.

 

[Tcline4]

So uhmm, i need help with my pet chicken. she's pretty young though, (almost 5 months old now) Probably the reason but i wanna confirm!! everytime i go near her, she runs away a meter or so, and when i get close and almost get to pick her up, she tries to escape and makes sound. HOWEVER, if i manage to pick her up and lift her up, in all of a sudden, she mostly shuts and stays calm. Her breed is an Auracana mixed with a normal chicken. but anyways, how do i solve this????View attachment 3924938

Once they start laying eggs they become much easier to capture because they do that squat with the wings out like if a rooster's going to mate with them.

 

[2 Acres]

It's called the "Submissive Squat" (impregnate me please)

 

[cundare]

We've had several birds (all roosters) that seem to enjoy being picked up. Some even come up to us when we sit in chairs on the lawn and beg to be picked up.

In all but one cases, these were "rescue birds" that we raised by hand after they lost their mothers at a very young age. They each imprinted on one of us and acted as though we were their mothers, even jumping on a shoulder when we sat near them.

This entailed bringing them into the house and spending a lot of time with them for a month or two until they got old enough to fend for themselves in the yard with the rest of the birds. They all did well, one even becoming an alpha rooster (we have 5 roosters in the flock that all seem to get along, surprisingly enough). And don't seem to run away when we make motions indicating that we're about to pick them up.

As others have correctly stated, chickens are not cuddly, not in the way that mammals like cats and dogs can be. But that doesn't mean that it's impossible to forge a relationship with one that is trusting enough that a bird will submit to being picked up.

By the way, as most long-time owners know, it's important to learn "chicken language," so that you can correctly interpret their sounds and motions. It's really more complex than most people realize. Your attempts to pick up your birds may have scared them to the point where they'll never feel comfortable with you getting to close. But if you raise a bird to be "part of the family", you may notice that it even greets you with your own "chicken name" -- that is, a specific pattern of sounds that it makes when you (and only you) approach.

 

[2 Acres]

When I get preoccupied in the garage, I have a Speckled Sussex that reminds me when the food trough gets low.

 

[mollygrace]

I raised my hens from chicks and handled them every day. Now they are all quite friendly. Some are very very friendly with me and will hop up on me any chance they get and love being held and petted just as they've been doing since they were chicks. Sometimes even falling asleep on me. Some are less interested and will run if I try to "get" them, but if I sit down and wait, all of them will eventually take a turn to hop up on me and enjoy a little petting.

 

[ChikaInu]

Some are naturally more friendly than others. I have a couple that will climb on me or jump on my back when I'm bent over and walk up to my shoulder.

I try to handle mine daily when they are young so they get used to it.

I've noticed they don't like to be picked up from above and behind with hands over wings. Too predator like. But some will tolerate being scooped up from underneath from the front so they know it's me.
Also, once I have them on my arms they are not happy until I put an hand or arm under their feet.

I had one that spent a lot of time in the basement cage for various reasons. She didn't want to be carried up the stairs but if you put your open palms in the door of the cage she would step out and stand on my hands. Then as we would go up the stairs she woudl gently flap her wings. I guess in her mind if she was going upwards then flying of some sort had to be involved.

The pet chickens we had when I grew up would seek out people and make themselves comfortable in anyones lap when we were sitting utside around the fire or having drinks. They appreciated treats and being stroked - but just as you say none have liked being held from above or over the wings.

I have spent hours and hours every day with my golden pheasants and two of them actively seek me out for cuddles - but again don't want me to actively pick them up. If I want them to come I will give them a signal to come and perch in my arm and from there we get comfortable.
Dandelion falls asleep on my lap or on my head all the time. <3

 

[Eroica]

So uhmm, i need help with my pet chicken. she's pretty young though, (almost 5 months old now) Probably the reason but i wanna confirm!! everytime i go near her, she runs away a meter or so, and when i get close and almost get to pick her up, she tries to escape and makes sound. HOWEVER, if i manage to pick her up and lift her up, in all of a sudden, she mostly shuts and stays calm. Her breed is an Auracana mixed with a normal chicken. but anyways, how do i solve this????View attachment 3924938

Most of my chickens are like that, probably even worse than what you're describing. However, I usually avoid handling my chickens, so that might be why.
There are a few that are friendly with me, without me even trying to socialize with them. I guess it depends on their temperament mostly.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Once they start laying eggs they become much easier to capture because they do that squat with the wings out like if a rooster's going to mate with them.

Not all birds will do the squat. Most of my chickens refuse to for males, let alone for humans