That is a common memory of many people. It comes down to breeding and how they are handled. Some breeds are just prone to be mean/nasty/sadistic/evil, while others (especially heritage breeds) are president Ne to be friendly, curious, easy to handle and almost personal. If you pick the right breed and have regular positive interactions with them, the experience can be much different.

My hens know that I’m the awesome guy that brings treats and is awesome… so they come to me and are begging to get my attention. They see me with either a rake/shovel/bucket, you’d think they were kids seeing an ice cream truck! They associate garden tools with bugs and worm foraging…