Panicked hen-raised pullets??

[Cierrascoop]

I have gotten two pullets from a local lady who I frequently have gotten chickens from. They are silkie mixes. These are my first pullets that I have gotten that were completely hen raised. I've either raised my own or gotten them raised by other people. They've had not much human interaction aside from feed time and basic cleaning, etc. They are around 10 or so weeks old.
My husband helped me put together a silkie area and a seperate quarantine area for my chickens over the last week. So I have those two in there currently (the quarantine area). Fencing seperates them from the rest. But, they are PANICKED.Seemingly all the time. I can't go anywhere near them or they start really getting scared and freaking out. I feel so bad even when going to feed them because it obviously stresses them out really badly. They are pacing the fencing back and forth. They seem very healthy. I did look them over well. Ended up bit in the process. And I think I may need a hearing aid now.lol. But my question is how do I go about getting them to trust me? Is this typical of all hen reared chicks? I'm not use to it, but always up for a challenge. They are pretty girls. I just hate seeing them under SO much stress -they look like they're going to have heart attacks.

 

[Yardmom]

My Silkies are often hen raised, but we can still go up to them at any time. What is your set up like? Are you approaching from the side or from the top?

 

[Cierrascoop]

My Silkies are often hen raised, but we can still go up to them at any time. What is your set up like? Are you approaching from the side or from the top?

They were like this in her enclosure when she got them out for me to look at as well. Like they were petrified of her. It is a large fenced in area with a small coop and a few places for them to take cover if they would rather go under them instead of the coop. Food and water. It's just a basic quarantine area. I believe the measurements are like 15 ft long and 10 wide. So it's plenty roomy for just the two of them during their quarantine period. My other chickens can see them, but they can't get to each other. Another user had said about doing a set up like this for easier introductions to the bigger flock. Then I have my regular silkies in another enclosure. My big flock free range. I still haven't decided where they will go yet. They are more flighty then my silkies. Time will tell based on their personalities and size full grown. I approach slowly from the side. I don't try to pick them up, aside from initial looking overs. I've been simply trying to gain their trust first. And I agree, my silkies are all very tame. Some even come to be picked up lol. They are very human friendly. It makes me sad seeing them so afraid.

 

[Cierrascoop]

My Silkies are often hen raised, but we can still go up to them at any time. What is your set up like? Are you approaching from the side or from the top?

Correction "12X18" lol. The husband corrected me.

 

[Cierrascoop]

Another thing to add would be the lady who had them previously did have A LOT of roosters. I guess they had been chased around a lot. Idk if that would affect them to this degree??

 

[Mrs. K]

Chicks raised under a hen, are a bit more skittish with people, but all is not lost. You just need to sit quietly with them. Do not approach, or reach for them. Put the feed down, and sit a ways off, perfectly still - 10-15 minutes. Wash repeat.

Once they come out to feed, wait till they are less interested before moving, and leave, once they come an eat with you sitting there, move a little bit closer. They will scatter, but come back.

It takes patience, but they will calm down.

Mrs K

 

[Cierrascoop]

Chicks raised under a hen, are a bit more skittish with people, but all is not lost. You just need to sit quietly with them. Do not approach, or reach for them. Put the feed down, and sit a ways off, perfectly still - 10-15 minutes. Wash repeat.

Once they come out to feed, wait till they are less interested before moving, and leave, once they come an eat with you sitting there, move a little bit closer. They will scatter, but come back.

It takes patience, but they will calm down.

Mrs K

Thank you for this advice. I will try to do just this. And hopefully slowly they will learn that I am kind and not a threat.