I think I picked the right breeds:)

[Tapsmom]

I am just getting the kids ready for bed after they convinced me that they needed to hold their chicks. We are first time chicken owners and our 6 chicks are 4 weeks old. We have 3 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Production Red, I Wyandotte and 1 EE. The first 4 seem quite friendly even at this age. I can reach in and stroke their chests without them running. The last 2 are very frightened of us..especially the EE. Is that normal?
I took out one of the Buff Orpingtons(Goldie)and let my older daughter hold her on her lap after showing her how to hold her safely and so she would feel calm (Well as much as my newbie self could figure out.) After an extremely short time Goldie snuggled down into her lap and started to close it's eyes I then took out the Production Red(Amber) and let my younger daughter hold her. Although she didn't settle down quite as completely as Goldie, she was quite relaxed and content sitting with my little one Of course, we had just let the chicks try spaghetti for the first time. They went nuts!
I did take the Wyandotte (Callie) out. She kept craning her neck, but didn't seem particularly nervous. She did not seem calm enough to have the girls hold her, though. The EE (Hailey) won't let me get near her. She is the largest one. I've tried to pick her up put she runs to the part of the brooder that I can't easily reach. All of the others will come to eat from my hand, but Hailey is vey apprehensive. I should note that I am in the middle of tax season so I haven't had much time to spend playing with the chicks.
I just wanted to share. If I can get my phone camera figured out I will post a pic of my daughter and her snuggling Goldie

 

[hallerlake]

Quote:
My EE was the most wary until she started laying, then she calmed down quite a bit.

 

[Tapsmom]

Thanks for the information. The other issue is that the Callie and Hailey were straight run. I think they are hens from some tests an avid chicken breeding friend told me, but...