handling birds

No it is a common problem redreet, especially with young birds and those not laying yet.  I would try just handling one bird per day so that they are all not panicked.  If they are really flighty do it on an evening when they have gone to roost.  They should be calmer then and easier to handle.  If you make a routine of it they should get used to you. 

Oh, what fun. I'd suggest you make a habit of picking them up when they are going to bed in the twilight and getting on their perches. This will give both of you confidence and you'll find which birds have favourite positions when being held. I find most are happy with their weight on the breastbone or slightly to one side so they are laying on one wing. Others prefer to stand on your hand. Remember that they've no diaphragm, so pressing on the tummy will give breathing problems and panic.
Get to know your run/garden whatever so that you can trap them in a corner. Some people use a fishing net, but I've never found the need.
By now you'll also have realisied that chooks have a sense of fun and getting humans to chase them is an excellent way to stave off boredom.
On the good side:- you'll never have to join a gym

My girls "love" me the most when I have a bag of mealworms in my hand.  I sit down in the run with them, scatter the mealworms around, and they're that busy picking and pecking, that before they know it, they've had their health check.  I do the same for dusting with DE, handful of mealworms and whilst theyre busy devouring them, pick up, dust and so on.