Chicken Prozac?

[Creteloc]

I have one chicken that no one can get near! Weird thing is, she was very very loving and cuddling up until about 2 weeks ago. The other hen comes running when she sees me, because I bring the good stuffs. If I open their coop door, one watches me, and the other tries to fly away, thereby flying into the ceiling, slamming into walls, and eventually finding her way out the door.

I try to coax them out of their coop if I need to do something in there, just so she doesn't hurt herself. If they are outside though, the non-neurotic hen comes toward me to get some scratch and the other screeches and flies away frantically. She'll scramble off the wrong way and run into the run several times before flying the right way to disappear into the coop.

They are both 9 weeks old. The calm one is my Easter Egger and the moody girl is my RIR.

Any ideas how I can calm her down? I want to be a friend! I want them to like to see me because I bring them food, water, and treats. As far as I know, nothing traumatic has happened to the RIR to make her so afraid of everything.

 

[barred2rock]

You're best bet is to spend as much time as you can sitting with them. Eventually she'll get used to you. When they get near laying age they typically calm down, will squat and let you handle them. My BRs became slightly flighty after about 8 weeks until they got close to lay. Now they're very friendly.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Assuming nothing's happened to suddenly startle her (like a predator incident), I'd figure it's mostly because of her age. My chickens all got more distant/flighty as they went through their teenage phase, then once they got to point of lay became friendlier again. Just keep your movements and voice calm and neutral around her, continue with treats, but if she doesn't want to come to you don't chase her or corner her.

 

[chickens really]

I always knock on their door before I open it and talk to them..It is their house after all......I never make eye contact with them...I act like they are not there..Young Birds are a bit flighty...She will come around in time...

 

[Creteloc]

*knock knock* Land Shark

 

[chickens really]

*knock knock* Land Shark

Huge Coyote just past through my pasture.......

 

[Creteloc]

Eeeew