Help, my chickens have high anxiety

[Jon Ray]

I have 2 frizzles hens that are about 3-4 months old now. They have a coop and a 5' x 8' run out into the yard.

When they were little would hold them and they were fine. Now that they are older they absolutely freak out anytime I even come into the yard. If I enter the coop or chick run to clean out the coop as I did today, they run from me and even trying to run themselves through the chicken wire fence.

I don't want them to hurt themselves and I never mistreat or have mistreated them. Is there something I can do to make it so my chickens don't fear me or have the behavior to want to run from me? I picked both of them up and held them briefly today to let them know everything was okay. It's like the older they get the worse their fear is and it happens with anyone else too, not just me.

 

[orrpeople]

Meal worms are an awesome way to make friends... (Every feed store carries them in small-large bags) I sit on the ground or a small stool and first toss a couple of them so they get a taste for them, then gradually toss them closer to my feet. It may take a few visits to the coop, but eventually they may even eat them out of your hand and come running when they see you. Best of luck to you!

 

[rebrascora]

Wearing different coloured clothes to usual and carrying cleaning implements can all be terrifying for them, so you need to be conscious of that. Talk to them, move slowly and as @orrpeople advised, have plenty of healthy treats like mealworms, grated apple etc and just sit with them for 10-15 mins before you start doing chores. Moving slowly around them is important and stopping and reassuring them if they start getting stressed. It might be necessary for you to gently usher them into the coop whilst you clean out the run and vice versa until they get calmer and more used to the routine.

 

[Kiki]

I say it's just their age. They will calm down when they get older.
I agree with bribing them with treats!

 

[TheTwoRoos]

That is true some of my hens went crazy as young girls.

 

[Mrs. K]

teenagers- they would be giggling if they were human girls, they will settle. However, I do vote with the sitting near the coop/run often.

 

[Jon Ray]

Thanks guys for putting some perspective on it. I'm in NSW, Australia so not sure what treat options I have here but I did give them some fresh cut Cilantro from the garden after I was done, which they seem to love. I also give them worms from my worm farm every now and then.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks guys for putting some perspective on it. I'm in NSW, Australia so not sure what treat options I have here but I did give them some fresh cut Cilantro from the garden after I was done, which they seem to love. I also give them worms from my worm farm every now and then.

Yep, keep bribing them with food. Because chickens are prey animals, their instinct is not to come toward anything, but to run. Hang out in the coop, or if they free range, out where they do their chickeny thing. Sit down in a chair or on the ground, toss them goodies, and lure them to you. Don't reach for them right away. Just let them get used to you and recognize you as The Bringer Of Good Things. They'll get used to you sooner or later.

 

[lazy gardener]

Do they have a lot of fru-fru covering their faces? If so, it might be time to give them a hair cut so they can see better.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A lot of it is their age. Hens will calm down a lot once they reach point of lay.

Treats are good. Moving slowly, talking to them calmly, all that helps. It will pay off eventually! But until they're past their "teens" they'll probably be less friendly and more apt to run.