I was told by everyone to get a silkie rather than any other breed because they were the BEST for pets.
I find mine is rather quiet and calm compared to my bonkerz light brahma, but he is very aloof still....he wont voluntarily follow me unless I have a treat or the other chick is following me.
I only have 2 chicks and the silkie will follow the light brahma chick EVERYWHERE and shreek loudly if she is out of his site. He will still avoid my hand if I want to pick him up, BUT once I pick him up he is fine. He just sits there peacefully then falls asleep....
whereas the light brahma chick, who is outgoing, follows me everywhere and flying up on my head etc etc, will run, screach and flap crazily if go to pick her up. (??!!??)
I think chickens go thru phases. They will be friendly but 'flighty' for a period. I find when they 'grow up' they calm back down again.
I think maybe when they are little they don't have great memories or something, or maybe their fight or flight instinct is really really high because of their size and vulnerablility. I thinks its just nature for some of them to be a little timid when young.
I'm sure they will grow out of it- but in the meantime you want to imprint on them as much as possible. ALWAYS bring a treat with you when you walk by them- so every time they see you its a posative experience they will look forward to again...Possibely pick them up and THEN treat them....
Its instinct to take food and 'run off' with it...so that 'no one else' snatches the food right out of their beaks- because they WILL! lol.
Hopefully your birds will mellow out a little more and more as they mature.
good luck.
e