New to chickens and they are afraid if me:(

jamiejean

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Hi ,
I'm new to all of this but have done a lot of reading. I just got a coop but do not have a run set up yet:/ the coop is about 4x8 and 6 nests. ( I have let them out to Wonder a few times) I have 2 hens and one rooster. I was told they were brown bantams, they were 16 weeks when I got them and now about 21 weeks. I got my first 2 eggs last Friday and then the Sunday I got 2 more. Monday nothing Tuesday 1 and today 1egg. So now I'm thinking only one is laying?! But I don't know:( am I doing something wrong that anyone can tell for what I have said?! Lol they are very afraid of me and freak out and run to the other side of the coop if I open it or even come buy the coop. I have grabbed one and held it yesterday and it settled down after a bit but then it got away and wouldn't come near me. It was the first time I could even touch one:( I have been talking to them but it isn't helping. I don't know...I don't know of this is normal for new laying hens.
Thank u if u can help me:)
 
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Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your new flock! New chickens are going to be nervous of you. They are unsure of your intentions. So first things, you need to let them adjust to their new surroundings. Keep the stress down in and around the coop. Move very slowly around them for a few weeks and don't try to pick them up. This will scare them. But you can just go sit with then in the coop every day. Sit on the floor with them and even bring some goodies. Let them warm up to you on their own. This is normal new chicken behavior.

They can also stop laying for a couple weeks until they get adjusted to their new home.

You may need to add more hens eventually as the proper ratio is 1 rooster to 10 to 12 hens. Too little of hens and they hens can be over mated, destroying their feathers and causing injuries to the hens. So just be watchful of the rooster.

They will come around. Give them time. Don't rush them, move slowly, go sit with them, talk quietly and offer up some treats. They will warm up to you eventually.
 
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I've never heard of a brown bantam. Some breeds are more skiddish than others. I take my chickens some chopped hard boiled eggs with some course sand and freeze dried meal worms sprinkled on them. I keep it around 4:00 every day. They come a running. I agree that the more time you spend with them the better they will get. Don't be nervous around them. Maybe hand feed them their treats if they will let you after a consistent routine of bringing them treats. Keep singing and talking to them. Take a chair out and just sing and talk without any sudden movements. I think they will come along. It helps if you get them younger and start from day one.
 
Ok that was great advice thank u! What do u think I should give them for a treat? I have tried Cheerios -they don't really like them lol I have given them vegetable scraps and they were gone from there coop in a few days but they dIdnt come running when I had the food lol.

I have been stressing about my run because I want to make sure it's predictor proof. That is why it has taken me so long to get it up I'm trying to do the best option. Is that ok that they are just inside there? Also how long do u think I have to wait till I can get some more? Thank u so much for ur help:)
 
Hard boiled eggs chopped up, meal worms, watermelon, and strawberries are some favorites. My chickens all time favorite is the hard boiled eggs though. There is a thread on here with some great ideas.
 
Great I will try the hard boiled egg thing:) and the same time everyday that makes sense thank u!
 
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These are my chickens if anyone knows what kind they are? There only in there bc I was finishing there coop:)
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! There is a nice chicken treat chart in the Learning Center, it often takes chickens awhile to get used to the idea of eating a new treat, but once they find something is edible they tend to be pretty enthusiastic about it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens It will take some time and patience to get them to get used to you, like people said above, try not to scare them and and use food as bribes, most chickens are pretty trainable using treats / food to get them to come close to you. If they know scratch, that will usually work well as a bribe, if they don't, just toss some out for a few days, they will probably decide they like it pretty fast. Then just have a can that you shake and call them somehow, they will get used to the noise / your call meaning scratch is going to be available and will come running.

If you got two eggs twice in a day, then both your hens are probably laying, bantams are more pets and not really consistent layers so it isn't unusual for them to skip days. If you can get some good pictures of them you could post them in the What Breed/Gender forum for help with figuring out what breeds they are www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this
 
Your birds may be especially skittish because they were ignored at their place of origin. Everything loves chicken and they know it's not in a good way. Their best defense is fleeing, when upset. They may never be huggable but, they should become more relaxed & inquisitive about you as time goes on.
 

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