Suddenly my hand raised chicks are terrified of me...?? :(

[Shemira]

Hey folks,
I hatched my first chicks this year, they have just turned 12 weeks (I hatched three but we lost one).
I raised them as pets and have spent a lot of time with them, they were always super affectionate. Whenever they saw me they would run over and jump straight into my lap and snuggle and sleep there (for as long as I would let them lol).
Suddenly about a week ago they start to seem really cautious around me - this week the little pullet is absolutely terrified of me (she used to be the cuddliest and love to be petted), the little roo is not quite as bad, he is cautious, but still comes to me for some (very cautious) pats. If I even move my hand towards the pullet she runs away in terror and hides.
We haven't had any negative incidents.
Is there something I may have done terribly wrong to cause this?

Photo when they were about 3 or 4 weeks

 

[nuthatched]

They're teenagers.
Nuf said.

 

[TOMTE]

They're teenagers.
Nuf said.

Yup.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

It's perfectly normal. Mine are great with me then regress and are nervous but once they are in the coop and free ranging they are great.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nothing you have done. They hit this age and the Fear Factor clicks on. My Sapphire Gem chicks used to come running to me, wings flapping, practically crying out, "Mama!" every time I went outside... I was so in love with them, lol... and then one day .... I was, not exactly the Big Bad Wolf, but ... they'd never seen me before in their lives, lol! It's just one of the many endearing (?) phases chickens go through. And why, one day, you'll order a dozen more baby chicks!

 

[wrathsfarm]

Agree with everywho above...in my experience usually around POL (point of lay), they come back around.

 

[Cmp211]

Same with everyone above, one of my jersey giants used fly up on my shoulder and just sit there. Not anymore
I think this is part of the equation for chicken math. Chicks turn into teenagers and don’t like you anymore, so you get more chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Agreed, it's their age. Once they near point of lay they'll generally revert to being friendlier or easier to handle.

 

[Squawkers]

Completely normal!! All of my chicks have done that too! Kind of like dogs when they go through their fear periods as they mature. They should calm down around the time they start laying. Usually right around the first egg they remember I raised them and I don’t want to eat them. It’s frustrating but just be patient!

 

[Shemira]

Nothing you have done. They hit this age and the Fear Factor clicks on. My Sapphire Gem chicks used to come running to me, wings flapping, practically crying out, "Mama!" every time I went outside... I was so in love with them, lol... and then one day .... I was, not exactly the Big Bad Wolf, but ... they'd never seen me before in their lives, lol! It's just one of the many endearing (?) phases chickens go through. And why, one day, you'll order a dozen more baby chicks!

ahhh thankyou for sharing.. I've been feeling so sad and rejected lol. And yes I'm already day dreaming about more chicks