Why are my chicks so skittish?

[ella2025]

Hi! I got 7 chicks 4 weeks ago and 4 chicks 2 weeks ago.
Here are the breeds:

4 week olds:
1 buff orpington
1 barred rock
1 light brahma
1 speckled sussex
3 silkies

2 week olds:
4 easter eggers.

I handle them every day. Every time i go to their brooder, I give them Black Soldier Fly larvae or whatever veggie I wanted them to eat. They love them. However, whenever I try to pick them up, all of them except the BR and SS will squawk so loudly while flapping their wings and sprinting away. I feel like BR is the only one who likes me. The others, um, just no. Silkies and Easter eggers are the WORST, while the Buff Orpington and Brahma don't like getting picked up, but are fine once they're standing on my arm.

Whenever I try to get them out of the brooder for cleaning, taking them outside to play, taking progress photos, etc, I'm having to snatch them up quickly after chasing them with my hand, even though I know they don't like it.

The thing is I feel really bad, but very often I have to do that, since they poop up their brooder so fast!!! They would run over to my hand if I have treats, but if I do so much as touch them, they run/fly away. What do I do? Will they get better once they're bigger?

 

[nuthatched]

What type of brooder? At 4 weeks, they no longer nger need one and can go out.
Chickens aren't typically cuddly animals, and they're prey instincts hate things coming from above.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I’ve had 24 chickens over the last 2 years and none were ever calm and friendly as chicks. I have a few adults now who are more comfortable with and come over for a pet/let me hold them, but even for those girls it wasn’t until they came into lay when they chilled out a bit (about 20 weeks old).

I know lots of folks want lap chickens. I started this 2 years ago thinking that’s what chicken keeping was but I’ve learned they are much happier when you respect their space. As they grow you’ll learn their personalities more and figure out who wants to interact and who wants nothing to do with you.