How do I make my hens friendly?

[Kamus Brazil]

Heya.
I have 9 hens 2 of them are very friendly and does't care about me around. They follow me actually. But the rest are very scared and/or shy. Everytime I arrive there they manage to run from away me screaming like crazy even when I'm feeding them! I have to set the feeder at the corner, walk away and then they will eat.
I don't expect they eat on my hands lol I just wanna know if it is possible to make them more friendly or at least they don't need to hide from me?
Thanks

 

[barg]

Feed the two friendly ones from your hand.
Say something before you feed the two friendly ones from your hand.
" Chick chick chick" is always a popular choice for something to say.
Do that every day.
Eventually the shy ones will want in on this food source that the friendly ones have.

Thats the best advice I can offer.

GL

 

[lurky]

I agree, work on the friendly ones and soon they will realize your a friend. Mine are still like that, but i too have 2 friendly ones(buff orpingtons). The Buffs come right over to me.....one even climbs on me and roosts. The 'others' see this and stare as if i am a monster and i am going to suddenly kill it. They are getting better. I have heard that when they reach the age when they are going to start laying, they will get much more friendly. Be parient and bring yummy treats. When i put a fresh water out in the run i wait til i get in the run to flip it right side down. Its easier to carry, but when they hear it go 'blub, blub, blub,blub' .......they all come running and cock their heads and listen......and when its done filling the tray they dring like they never had fresh water before. And they will come closer to me everytime.

 

[GoodEgg]

Just wanted to say that I agree too.

My job is a little easier, I bet, since mine were shipped as chicks to me. I have 26 now. At first, everyone ran and tried to hide. I put my hand out with feed and ONE brave little chick came to eat. It wasn't long at all before a few others followed her. Now, a couple of weeks later, I have at least 10 or 12 who run right in and eat from my hands. A couple of these jump out of the brooder and want to be on my arms, and are almost impossible to put down.

There are others that are still shy and always have been. Funny, it seems most of the bantams (except the Japanese Bantam) are all less friendly than the standards. Most of them have never come to me, and won't even get treats from the plate if I am still in the room. Just yesterday, two of them seemed interested and got closer, but still won't eat from my hands.

But they definitely learn from each other, and being friendly with a couple will make it easier with the others. Special treats will help too, I bet. Handfed grasshoppers did wonders for bringing our baby ducklings in to us! (And ours are more skittish and wilder than chicks, I think.)

Good luck!

trish