Lost the love

[Chickie YumYum]

I have 4 layers and one rooster-2 orps, 2 australopes, ee rooster.
They were letting me pick them up and pet, but now they run away. No, I haven't injured any but the relationship has changed. I was able to pet them anytime, now it's only when they are getting ready to roost in the hen house for the night and they're not thrilled anymore. My Roo won't even even let me touch him anymore. I still spend time with them down on their level. Why the change? What did I do wrong?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Hi! It's normal in my experience. I only have one chicken out of 11 that runs to me. The others are at arms length. They were more friendly when they were younger.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How old are they?

As a general rule chickens don't really enjoy being handled the way other pets would.

 

[tlcmurphy]

They also don’t like being handled if they’re molting.
I agree with @rosemarythyme chickens merely tolerate being picked up or pet.

 

[Mrs. K]

Often times as the rooster comes into his own, the hens turn to him. If he is a good rooster, they will tend to get behind him, so that he is between you and them, and he will give you 4-5 feet of respect.

A lot of chickens really are uncomfortable being held, and play dead. People often times take this as the hen is relaxed and enjoying being held, but really it is a last ditch effort to stay alive. When a predator attacks, they need the victim to struggle so as to get worked up enough to kill it. If it acts dead, sometimes, not always, the predator will drop it, and it can get away.

What breeds do you have? Some breeds are more friendly than others. And often times, that stand offishness does come on with adolescence, then calms down with adulthood, so they may come around.

Mrs K

 

[Chickie YumYum]

Often times as the rooster comes into his own, the hens turn to him. If he is a good rooster, they will tend to get behind him, so that he is between you and them, and he will give you 4-5 feet of respect.

A lot of chickens really are uncomfortable being held, and play dead. People often times take this as the hen is relaxed and enjoying being held, but really it is a last ditch effort to stay alive. When a predator attacks, they need the victim to struggle so as to get worked up enough to kill it. If it acts dead, sometimes, not always, the predator will drop it, and it can get away.

What breeds do you have? Some breeds are more friendly than others. And often times, that stand offishness does come on with adolescence, then calms down with adulthood, so they may come around.

Mrs K

2 Orps, 2 australopes

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I don't generally cuddle chickens but even without a rooster I have noticed that as mine got older they were more apt to run away if they thought I was going to pick them up. It's a defense mechanism. Usually anything that is picking them up is doing it to eat them. Chickens don't pick each other up. Even mother hens don't pick their babies up the way cats and dogs do. So it seems normal to me. I have had a few that want to hang around me or even jump in my lap but that is more on their terms than mine.

 

[Chickie YumYum]

2 Orps, 2 australopes. I have a great rooster too

 

[Mrs. K]

Those are good breeds. A lot of people love them. I would wait, and let them get past adlescence, and consider if you really want a rooster or not. If you want pets, sometimes a rooster is just not a good fit.

Although others, have stated that their rooster is their cuddle buddy, I have never had that.

MRs K

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I have 32 chickens currently abd in my 3 years of chicken keeping I've only had 3 or so that would actually choose to be around me. The others only come to me if I had food or treats. Chickens don't like human contact that much as others have stated.