I don't understand chickens!

[IamRainey]

I'm new at this and I only have 3 but I've had them for about 5 months now.

When I'm in the coop they will come up to me, check me out, talk to me and let me touch them. When they're in the run, if I make the smallest move they run like I'm the devil incarnate. Today I offered them mealworms from my hand. Two were brave enough to come and get them but even so if I twitched they couldn't get far enough fast enough.

What's the big difference?

 

[Laodicia]

I'm new at this and I only have 3 but I've had them for about 5 months now.

When I'm in the coop they will come up to me, check me out, talk to me and let me touch them. When they're in the run, if I make the smallest move they run like I'm the devil incarnate. Today I offered them mealworms from my hand. Two were brave enough to come and get them but even so if I twitched they couldn't get far enough fast enough.

What's the big difference?

Maybe they feel safer inside where they roost. And outside are on high alert for predators.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Everything and its first cousin eats chicken. So all of today's chickens are descended from the few hens and roosters that somehow managed to keep body and sole together in the face of some heavy predation pressures. In fact baby chicks come out of the shell with a very healthy case of paranoia towards anything and everything. When your birds are confined in the coop with you, they don't have an option other than to allow you to be their Devil Incarnate Best Buddy. Everywhere else they are unconvinced that your not plotting to eat them.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Give them time, they'll come around. Keep up with the mealworms, put some in a plastic container, shake as you approach the Run. They'll come a running. Mine see me in the patio & they're all over each other at their RC door.

 

[lomine]

I have some chickens that have no problem being right at my feet no matter where we are and others who don’t want to get near me. Even when I toss out treats they run away a short distance like I’m tossing lava at them, but they always come back. The older ones are the most relaxed and they never run away. Just give them time. Soon they will learn you bring yummy things and aren’t going to eat them.