Ann, the chickens will friendly right up, especially when they figure out that you are the bearer of good things. Always have a little something for them. Every morning when I let my hens, turkeys and ducks out, they get a bread treat. They LOVE me, hee, hee. As soon as they come out of their houses, they wait right at my feet, all at attention, until I throw that bread and man can they run, hee, hee.
My chickens and ducks (not so for the turkeys) are well trained (I am joking, it is the food thing). But I can command them from all the way from my house down to their chickenyard. That is about a 30 second walk, I would venture. I call them, here......chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, (I think that is how many times I say their names), sometimes I go brawk, brawk, brawk, and that gets them running even faster!!! It is funny to see them run as fast as they possibly can, some even flying a little so they can get to the area faster, then they just stand and wait.
When they are out of their chickenyards and running around our places free, they will hear my Sister's voice. Now that brings on another stream. They know that she always throws good stuff off her porch to them, she doesn't even have to call them, all they have to do is hear her laugh and they are under her command, hee, hee.
Oh, you gonna love the chickens, I am serious....there is never a dull moment, and you can sit and watch forever and never be bored for an instant, love your chickens, have that wonderful day, love life, love it all. Cindi