My chickens are scared of Me?

[SkyStorm]

I have 4-8 day old baby chicks that I got yesterday. I first got them and they were fine with me picking them up and stuff. Today thought they all just are terrified of my picking them up. I havent dropped them or anything like that. When were in the yard they climb on me, follow me around...ect. But when I try to pick them up they run like I am going to choke them or something?!?! Is this natural or did I do something wrong or what?

 

[jerseygirl1]

Natural
Mine run like crazy from me

 

[BarredBuff]

Dont feel worried before I sold my Australorps they ran like crazy from me but I had also been pulling pasty butt out of their butts.

 

[SkyStorm]

Barredbuff- I am sure if I were those chickens I would run too

Anyway, thanks guys. I just don't want them to fear me for something I did(well I didn't do anything). If it's natural for them to then that makes me feel better.

 

[equine chick]

Pick them up a little each day and massage their crop area. When my chicks are little I do this and it soothes them I think. I have 5 weekers in the brooder and when I open the cage they one by one come to me. I think they love the crop rubbing, like a baby's back being rubbed.

 

[SkyStorm]

I feel like a newbie asking this but what's a crop? haha I am such an inexperienced chicken handler. I just got my first 5 yesterday so...yah...

 

[bantybev]

The crop is the area just below their throat. It usually is swelled (mostly to one side) just after a good meal, then goes down.

 

[SkyStorm]

Oh I know what your talking about. Okay I will try that

 

[pretty_chicken]

Yeah, before I knew about crops, I thought my babies all had tumors! Almost had a heartattack with that one!