Did I Screw Up?

[akostka1988]

I have 3 guineas (2 males—unfortunate luck of the draw—and 1 female) and 6 ameraucana chickens (1 rooster and 5 hens) and they don’t like me lol. They follow me around the yard when I’m outside but anytime they even think my hand is heading toward them they flutter away. I 100% knew the guineas were gonna hate the idea of me touching them but I thought the chickens would be better. Pony Boy (the rooster) will let me pet him if he’s eating but that’s it. Even then it had better be a good treat or he better be really hungry otherwise he flutters away. I’m thinking the flock has taken the behaviors of the guineas to be their own because they don’t even hang out in the open they keep to the tree line or under the bushes. Idk how else to get them to like me lol. When they were pullets (I got them at that stage) I would try to handle them often but they always seemed upset about it so I tried not to stress them out.

 

[britesidefarm]

Are you curious how to get them to like you?

 

[lovesfarms]

Sit on the ground and let them eat any treats you give them from your hands. You are less formidable on their level. When you touch them, use an up turned hand so they don't think you will clamp them to the ground. Slowly slip your hand under their bellies to pick them up. Don't know if it works for all chicks but that's what works with Mine. I've been holding mine since day one
If you start at an older age it can be more difficult

 

[akostka1988]

Are you curious how to get them to like you?

Well ya I guess I just don’t want them to be afraid of me if I do need to get them for whatever reason because they are free range but even yesterday we had a bad thunderstorm and instead of heading for the coop they tucked away in the tree line getting soaked and it’s getting colder here already. One sick bird can ruined the whole flock. Plus the rooster tends to roost (ha) on top of the run every night and I have to wait til it’s almost totally dark to sneak up on him to get him in the coop. I live in the woods on a wildlife refuge and I have a couple barred owls already aware there’s a meal nearby I don’t want to make it easy for them.

 

[akostka1988]

Sit on the ground and let them eat any treats you give them from your hands. You are less formidable on their level. When you touch them, use an up turned hand so they don't think you will clamp them to the ground. Slowly slip your hand under their bellies to pick them up. Don't know if it works for all chicks but that's what works with Mine. I've been holding mine since day one
If you start at an older age it can be more difficult

Well that’s my problem. They didn’t take to my interactions with them well as chicks and now they’re just entering adulthood (breeding age) and they hate me lol

 

[lovesfarms]

Well that’s my problem. They didn’t take to my interactions with them well as chicks and now they’re just entering adulthood (breeding age) and they hate me lol

It may well be the breed. You may be doing all the right things and it's just not in them to accept it. They definitely aren't near all alike.

 

[21hens-incharge]

They don't hate you. They are prey animals and that screams at them to run away if anyone/anything tries to touch them.

I treat trained mine to come to the sound of the feed scoop with scratch in it. It's not hard to do. Just go out with bucket of choice and a favorite treat in it....choose a noisy treat. Rattle the bucket while calling them. Toss a bit their direction. Once they are on that treat....toss a bit more closer to you. Repeat while walking to the run. Next day start closer to the run. Repeat til they charge you the second you step outside....then toss treats only in the run.