My chickens hate me

[ForFlocksSake]

Ok I’m being dramatic.

But my 9-10 week olds seem pretty scared of me. I handled them daily as little chicks but wasn’t “snuggly” with them like I see so many people are. They now live in a run outside. They don’t exactly run and hide when I enter (mainly cause they know I usually come with something special) but I cannot pick them up without either chasing or waiting for the exact right moment one is distracted close enough to me. 2 will come peck at my shoes if I stay still but the rest keep their distance.

I’m not trying to make them lap chickens, but im already struggling to do health checks on them and I worry it’s only going to get more difficult. Is it normal for chickens to be this flighty? Is there anything I can do to help earn some trust or is it too late?

Breeds are:
RIR (jury is out in sex)
White leghorn (pullet)
barred Plymouth Rock (pullet)
Easter egger (pullet)
Buff Orphington (pullet)
Blue maran (cockerel)

 

[Tonyroo]

Do health check at dusk or at night, way easier to handle them at any age.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's their age. Plus most chickens really don't like being picked up all that much. If they were more tolerant of it when they were younger, they'll likely be more tolerant of it once they reach POL. But a few may never really want to be handled.

 

[Mrs. K]

Do you ever check them for medical issues? I just like to look at them once or twice a week to make sure nothing is going on.

No I don't. Years ago, there was an established poster, who treated them more like livestock, which I am comfortable with. She said, that if they are active, bright eyed, eating and laying they are fine. I go with that.

Mine have plenty of room. I do not expect them to live forever, and I like multi-generational flocks. As far as I know, I have never had a medical issue. I don't read the medical page on here, because I secretly believe that a lot of people like to doctor their birds just to be doctoring.

I do watch them, we are ranchers, so watching animals is what we do.

Mrs K

 

[ShrekDawg]

It’s normal. They should calm down some once they start laying. Mine did.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

They never really tolerated being handled. They have always acted like im trying to murder them

No one does dramatic like chickens do.

 

[Americana24]

Yeah my chickens are kind of scared of me too but they're all young hens so hoping they lighten up a bit when they get older. I'm the nicest owner too? I even put ice in their water feeder and give them watermelon and meal worms and run misters in this terrible heat? Their coop is high dollar and I let them free range on my 1 acre property too.
I get no respect lol

 

[SourRoses]

I'm a little weird in that I believe in animals autonomy. If they don't want handling that's their choice unless there's a real need, like illness, moving coops, or going for sale.

When I first move them into the coop, I force them to roost. It's a safety issue IMO, height keeps them safe from small predators like rats. So they squawk mean names at me, but I grab them and stick them on the roost as many times as needed for them to get it (timing it for enough darkness they want to stay put, but enough light that I don't need a flashlight).
This would be an ideal time for you to look them over. Right on the border of dark. The urge to roost at bedtime is strong enough they shouldn't escape when you open the door. Night chickens are totally different to day chickens

If you go after your birds in the day and they get away, you're basically teaching them to run away from you.
I like to just sit with my birds. I don't want lap chickens, but I bring out a folding chair some days and spend time watching them. They get curious too, and some come up to visit me. Even the sweetest go through a long "Don't touch me" stage. But since they know I won't just grab at them, they still come close.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I have found that sitting in the run with my flock makes them less leery of me. Some will flutter up onto my lap. I also offer tidbits which they're not afraid to take from my hand. They did have to learn to take the tidbits without taking my fingers!

Odd, I find sitting in my run makes the neighbors REALLY leery of me. And the chickens could care less…

 

[user651618]

Mine are the same way except for the liege fighters. My regular birds are cool with me but aren't going to let me pick one up unless I snatch them up after dark. The LF's are like dogs. They follow me around and try to get in my lap and whatnot. It's even more strange because I don't encourage it at all.