I was wondering if chickens can associate bad things with people?

[daChicBu-GI]

So I recently got some ISA brown hens and they are currently very scared of me, I tried to pick them up but they easily escaped my grasp . I’m just wondering if this is going to ruin my relationship with them or will they just forget about it? Thank you!

 

[aart]

So I recently got some ISA brown hens and they are currently very scared of me, I tried to pick them up but they easily escaped my grasp . I’m just wondering if this is going to ruin my relationship with them or will they just forget about it? Thank you!

How old are they?
How long have you had them?
Chickens are not like kittens and puppies, most don't really like to be handled.
It can be done with lots of time and patience.
Start slow and just sit near them, read a book, toss out a few treats once in while.
Visit frequently, without treats, just to get them used to you being around.

 

[nao57]

I wish I had a better answer.

I'll let some of the experts talk.

But for me it seems my ducks are more social than my chickens. I don't know if chickens can be social. And even my ducks associate seeing me and socializing with me as 'time for treats', not actual friendliness.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

Maybe try feeding them their fav treats (meal-worms are a nice choice!). Then eventually try to get them to eat out of your hand. Do this often, they might just gain trust in you.

 

[aart]

They are 17 weeks old and I have had them for a couple of days now.

Very early days...and chicks probably weren't handled previously.
Chickens can teach you patience.....or not.

 

[MROO]

They are 17 weeks old and I have had them for a couple of days now.

You may have a tougher time "taming" those ladies, as they are already set in their ways. They're not likely to ever be "lap chickens," but time, patience and sitting quietly with treats at your feet (mealworms on your shoes and scratch all around you!) will go a long way towards their accepting you. If you always greet them with the same sound ... a specific whistle or a sing-song call they can recognize ... then feed them or give them treats, they'll come to associate the sound (and eventually, you,) with good things, too. It's pretty satisfying to see them come scrambling when you call ... even when you know it's really all about the food!

 

[AppleMomma65]

Since I got mine as 1-day old chicks, I had the opportunity to "bond" with mine but I agree with @aart and @MROO in that simply spending time with them in their coop or run will help a LOT - bring a cuppa coffee or have a glass of wine while you sit there with them and talk about your day, what you did, even if it's nonsense, they hear your voice - heck, I even just sit with them and look through SM on my phone - point is, just sit and be. All of my chickens run to the door when they see me coming to their coop/run - this brings me joy. With that said, there are only 6 of my 12 that will sit on my lap for an ear scratch or a pet. The others are getting better but it's like they just tolerate me being in there with them and I'm okay with that. One other thing I'm not sure of but I've found it a bit interesting: I go into the coop at night when it's dark and say good night and pet them (they are still getting used to their coop - and well, I'm weird and do things like this for them). The ones that are more skittish are then calm (because it's dark) and perhaps it's just my imagination but it seems like those ones are getting more trusting of me as they are seeing I'm not hurting them when they are at their most vulnerable at night. I wish you luck.

 

[daChicBu-GI]

Ok then, Thanx for your reply!

 

[333113]

It may not be anything you've done to scare them. There's been some interesting research that seems to demonstrate that fears can be inherited.

https://www.livescience.com/41717-mice-inherit-fear-scents-genes.html

But, chickens are smarter than we give them credit for. If you behave in a calm and predictable way, around them, they will learn to trust you.

 

[daChicBu-GI]

Thank you all for your help I will take your advice and hopefully my chickens will trust me!