Friendly chicks now skittish

[Esrun]

We have 5 week old pullets (right, now they’re called pullets?) that were super friendly and liked to be held. I moved them from a brooder that was waist high (so I’d sit in a chair next to them and be nearly eye level vs towering over them) to the floor bc they needed more space. They don’t approach me like before and aren’t as interested in climbing on me or interacting. Is this normal? Could it be that they’re just getting more confident and exploring? Any chance they’ll go back to being lap/arm chickens? I really hope so. They are Orpingtons, Australorps, and a Barred Rock.

 

[DemeterAD9]

When the environment changes it seems their behavior does as well. My chicks in the brooder were skittish and ran away more often than not. Now that they are out in the coop and run they are becoming more curious and friendly. One bird from my first hatch that I rarely handled is becoming a lap rooster who likes to be pet (his brother is on his way to earning a one way ticket to the table). The younger chicks (4-5 weeks old) don't avoid me like the plague anymore and a few are perfectly content to be picked up and perched on my hand.

Give them time to adjust, they will likely change their tune again when moved to their permanent coop.

 

[Delphene]

I agree, We got a Silkie chicken a while ago, I don't like Silkies that much and think they are in general kinda skittish and she was before. She was living at a farm, but when we got her and brought her into our flock she integrated perfectly but turned very skittish always walking right next to our Roo and running away from me when I was 6 feet away. She did however get a bit more used to me when I spent more time in the chicken yard. She's still a bit skittish but that could just be Silkie nature.