I have scaredy chickens...

[Crs1]

they are a group of 16 pullets and 1 roo. Or as of today 10 pullets and 6 hens.
And they all layed the eggs down in the ravine, in the same spot, they stay in. I have 1golf ball in each of the nests (3) in their coop.
I also have a flock of hens that have a seperate coop. I kept the 2 separated til they were 2 months old then let them mingle and they both went to their own coops at night When I let them all out to free range the 17 barely leaves the ravine area
We have tried to coax them out to free range but they won’t have anything to do with it
So my question is how to I get them to lay in the coop?
And how do I get them to free range with the others?

I got them the first of March so they are 4 months

 

[Barbs Girls]

No expert but I was told to keep them in the coop till mid day for awhile, more or less forcing them to lay inside.

 

[aart]

Or as of today 10 pullets and 6 hens.

Female chickens aren't called hens until one year of age.
I'm assuming that you mean 6 of the pullets are now laying.

Yes, keeping them confined to coop and run, with fake egg in nests, will help establish the habit of laying in the coop nests.

The 2 flocks will probably start to merge as the pullets begin laying...or not as they have separate coops. Does the older flock have a cockbird?

 

[Crs1]

Still learning that is what I mean!

I can seperate my main run from the ravine and the coop that the pullets occupy has an 8x8 enclosed run. The problem with that tho is I have a broody with three new chicks in the 8x8 right now and in a few weeks there will be another one. We just put in a new pop door that exits to the ravine and they use it. Here are my concerns
I can have two seperate spaces for hens and pullets but the run for the hens doesn’t have much shade til 2-3 in the afternoon.
And the ravine is a rather large area do you think the pullets will still find there way to the nests in the coop?
I use golf balls in the nests maybe I will put more in them
And yes both flocks have a rooster.
Thanks

 

[aart]

I can have two seperate spaces for hens and pullets but the run for the hens doesn’t have much shade til 2-3 in the afternoon.
And the ravine is a rather large area do you think the pullets will still find there way to the nests in the coop?
And yes both flocks have a rooster.

It's the pullets that need to be confined....the hens already lay in their coop nests?
The cock/erels may keep the flock separate...or the older cock may take over the younger girls...or there may be a battle that ends in a deal of divvying up the girls, or one cock/erel may end up ousted.

 

[Crs1]

This is looking into the run from th new pop door. There is a door between them. This is the pullets coop and attached 8x8 the Broodies will occupy for awhile and this is the ravine.
and this is the hens coop and run. As you see there isn’t much shade at all and it’s going to be 105 heat index the next three days. My husband said it would be to hot for them. He suggested separating til noon then letting hens in to ravine. Hope this sends