My chickens suddenly don't want to be held

[Momma*chicken]

My husband and I have raised our chickens since they were 3 days old. They r now 10 1/2 wks old and suddenly they don't like to be held and they peck a little more. Is this because they r adolescents, will they grow out of it? Or does that just happen as chickens mature? For reference they r isa browns, I know breed can have a lot to do with it. Thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

Many chickens don't want to be held, it's normal. Some may decide it's okay, but not all.
On the other hand, nobody should be pecking you! Chickens are fun and interesting, but they aren't wired like a puppy or kitten (who also shouldn't be nipping!).
'Peck back', as in a tap, or something, at least. Don't allow your birds to peck at you!
Mary

 

[Hanathehappyhen]

They could just be going through there molt. This would explain them not wanting to be held. During there molt there quills start to come out. If you hold them the quills since they're stiff covers for the new feathers will dig into there skin making it VERY painful to be held. I would just leave off touching them but still give them treats and love without contact. If you keep trying to hold them they might slowly lose trust in you since you're causing them pain. If it's not that I really don't know.

 

[Momma*chicken]

Thank you for your responses! I will take that all into consideration! And I have notice a lot of feathers in their run, so maybe they r molting? How long does molting last? Just want to know how long I should wait to start holding them again?

 

[sourland]

They are teenagers, and hormones are starting to surge. As prey animals many fowl do not like being grabbed/held.

 

[PirateGirl]

Personalities and pecking order change as they mature. Once they all start laying things simmer down and their personalities are more established.

 

[Momma*chicken]

Good to know!

 

[lazy gardener]

What Sour says!!!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Many chickens don't want to be held, it's normal. Some may decide it's okay, but not all.
On the other hand, nobody should be pecking you! Chickens are fun and interesting, but they aren't wired like a puppy or kitten (who also shouldn't be nipping!).
'Peck back', as in a tap, or something, at least. Don't allow your birds to peck at you!
Mary

What Mary is saying is to jump right in amongst you chickens and join in on all the pecking order fun. Good luck.

BTW, a molting chicken is a feverish, hurting, aching chicken and very few hens or roosters like to be pawed over by a human while they are molting. Doing so is the quickest way that I know of to turn a sedate calm rooster into the most violent man fighter on Earth and it sure won't help your hens' personality.

 

[AUChickenGal]

Chickens, in general, don’t like to be held. While I CAN handle any of mine, if needed, I don’t unless there is a specific need for me to do so. Chickens aren’t cats or dogs. I try to allow my birds to be birds as much as possible. Mine aren’t allowed to peck or display any aggressive behavior towards humans (even the rooster), but I don’t expect them to act like lapdogs.