Biggest key is the more you hold/handle them the calmer they will become.
True Cute story:
We raised ours in our home until they were about 3-4 months old and they are used to my kids toting them around.
I have a pic I will upload tomorrow from my phone.
Today I looked out the window and my 7 year old daughter was carrying a chicken around the yard playing "princess" with her 4 year old sister.
But the best part was the chicken! she had a 5 month old EE cradled on its back like it was a baby!!!!
I'm not even kidding! This went on for several minuteds before I went outside to rescue it as it hadn't gotten away from her yet.
But what I found was even more shocking.......
It was just simply laying in her arms! She wasn't holding it there it was just very relaxed and comfortable in her arms. Letting its legs stick out loosly and everything! It layed there in her arms as she toted it around the yard playing (gently tho) with her for probably close to 30 minutes. Eventually my daughter's arms got tired and she had to put the hen down, who then trotted away to join the rest of the flock.
Later she walked right up to the same hen and she bent down and picked her up again without the hen even flinching. If I walk up to the same hen she will walk away. I can pick her up and she doesn't struggle or anything in almost any possition I hold her. She just prefers that I don't hold her.
Its pretty much the same with all of our chickens. They were handled a lot by us and still are so we can hold them and pick them up and they are very calm in any position. The more you do it the better they will be and soon you can tote them around your yard whil eplaying princess....
