Raising chickens

[munchkinsmommy]

I have six 8 week old (or so) chickens. We got them at a day old. We believe 5 are female and one male. My question is primarily around how to get them used to hanging out with us and being handled. When they were little it was easy to pick them up and handle them. Now not so much. We let them free range for short periods of time while we sit with them. They will walk around us but if we reach out to pet or try to pick them up they run. Anything else we should be doing as they get bigger to make them more comfortable?

 

[barred2rock]

Reaching from over top will get the same response as a predator would get. Try to sit and reach from their level. Regardless they may be flighty until they start squating near laying age. Once they get near lay age, they typically calm down and will more likely let you handle them.

 

[jthornton]

I second that being on their level is important and don't reach for them, give them a reason to come to you. My first chicks did the same thing because I was reaching down to them instead of across.

JT