Skittish chickens...

[Noleball]

Hello all! I am new to the world of chickens and the forums on this site. I have been reading everything for a couple of months although I have not posted much.

I have five chicks we got when they were as few days old. Of course we tend to them everyday and they see us everyday but they are very skittish and will run to the other end of the pen when we open up to take care of food and water.

I see many threads on here where people talk about their birds following them around and such but ours are so scared, I am afraid to let them run around in the yard for fear they will try to take off.

How do I get them to settle down a little and not be so nervous?

 

[SillyChicken]

They're young yet. Give them time!

Most people get their chickens to be more social by giving treats.... feed, bugs etc.. Mine got really friendly after I started giving them crickets and meal worms. I started giving the treats while they were still confined to a brooder. Now if I go out to the run and kneel down, they'll come running to me for treats.

 

[TXmom]

Treats, treats, treats....it's the only way. Feed them from your hand: crickets, mealworms, scrambled eggs, bread, scratch grains, spaghetti noodles...whatever they love. My chickens are not "cuddly"...they don't like to be picked up and held, but they do come running to me when I walk out the door, follow me around the yard, and some let me pet them a little. Also, once the pullets hit egg-laying age (around 5-6 months) they settle down a lot and are more submissive.

Enjoy your birds...I got my first chickens last year and I LOVE them!