How do I get my hens to stop running away from me

[iluvpeeps]

I have three hens and when they were babies I made the mistake of not handling them all of the time. I have two more older hens that I did handle a lot when they were babies. My younger hens run away from my whenever I try to pick them up or pet them. I think they might be scared of me because i used to have two super aggressive roosters and if I came in the roosters would peck me and attack me. One peck on my skin would make me bleed so I started bringing a little broom into the chickens area whenever I went in there they were scared of it so I never had to use it I just had to hold it. I really want to be able to pet the hens and make them not be so scared. When I used to have to hold the broom I never threatened any of the chickens but I think somebody else may have hit them with the broom. My relative usually goes in there if they ran out of food or water and they are the one who told me to bring the broom with me when I go in there and to hit them if they threaten me. Does anybody know how I can make my hens let me pet and handle them?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

It sounds like now that the roosters are not there you can spend more time in the run with them. Bring treats with you and hang out with them all. After a while once they are more comfortable, you can gradually try to pet them on their chest and then reward them for accepting a pet. They may never be as comfortable as your other hens with being picked up.

 

[galanie]

In my experience, very few chickens truly like to be petted and picked up. But you can get them to warm up to you by following Scratch 'N' Pecks advice.

 

[terimay]

I just got a new pullet and she was very scared, what I did was wait until it's dark out because they don't run away when its dark cause they can't see very well. I went up and gently pet her and talked to her so she would get used to my voice...a couple nights of doing this and she is not so scared anymore.