My Pullets are Terrified of Me

[Chickassan]

Ok, you have been given really good advice live mealworms are the best chicken whistle ever!
You have also been given some absolute truth, even if you popped those girls out of the egg yourself there is a phase when they'll hate you and unfortunately it happens at about the same age folks start selling them...nice right?
It will take you longer to gain their trust simply because they haven't seen you since day one but it will happen.
I just recently won over one of my girls that I didn't hatch. I can touch her and get her up on my arm. I couldn't even touch her toe on the roost before.
I just let her decide, not like you can force them anyway. Now i'll tell you the awful part....iv'e had her since 2016, she was six weeks old when I got her. Patience grasshopper...or grasshoppers and patience whatever works.

 

[danceswithronin]

It sounds weird, but chickens LOVE routine, so I have found the best way to tame my flock (which was awfully skittish between the ages of 3-4 weeks) is to go into the run every single afternoon with them, sit down for like twenty minutes, and basically ignore them. I read a book out loud off my phone or sing to them to get them used to the sound of my voice but otherwise I don't talk to them. I always sing "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley because they get used to hearing the same song every time and associate it with me.

After a few weeks of this, they started getting very curious as to what I was up to, and started foraging closer and closer to me. Eventually a few of the most brave ones started to hop up on my knee. Now the bravest three will come running over and jump on my head/shoulders as soon as I sit down. This is without offering any treats at all.

I still have two chickens out of six who are skittish and do not prefer to be held/picked up, but the rest have tamed a LOT from this method, including a Wyandotte chick I had who has absolutely hated to be touched from Day 1. Now she will jump up on my lap of her own accord and she still doesn't like to be picked up, but will allow you to pet her.

 

[Acre4Me]

All good info above. Remember, as @aart stated, they are PREY animals, so they are hardwired to see threats and to respond accordingly (they run!) As others have mentioned, a routine is great - they really love it! treats are great, but tie that into a routine and it is even more beneficial - so, shake that tin with scratch in it around while saying "chick chick chick" or whatever, and they will soon learn to come when called - very useful for getting them back into run or coop at end of free-range time or whatever.

But, the BIGGEST change that we have seen comes with the onset of laying. Their hormones work magic on the girls and they settle down more, and are more calm (usually). So, feed and water them, and try to incorporate some kind of routine.

We've had momma hen raised chicks and hand raised chicks - all of them are skittish. We have a tween that cant keep hands off the chicks, it seems, and they are still skittish. But all come around when they start to lay.