Plymouth Rock pullets nesting box dramas.

[KALBRZ]

Hi guys
This is my 1st flock of chickens. 3 Plymouth Barred Rock's. They are a day shire of 21 weeks. I've had them for 8 weeks. My coop is a nice size 2.4m x 1.2m. Its made so the nesting boxes are attached to the wall. So chicken enters box from inside the coop and I collect eggs from outside. Now here is the issue. At 8am I open the popdoor and out they come down the ramp and they do their thing all day. Good size run plus I gave them a massive fig tree to rest under when it gets hot. So, sunset approaches and back they come, up the ramp, jump up onto the roost bar. I shut the popdoor and they sleep. The problem is, they never go inside during the day. Not even for a minute. Nope. And that's where the two nesting boxes are. I can get them up the ramp with mealworm during the day. Then a nice pile inside the coop. But no. They won't pass the popdoor. But at night it's not a issue. At 21 weeks I'm told the 1st egg isn't far, but I can't get them inside the coop let alone inside the nesting boxes. I need help!!!! Ahh!!!!!!

 

[WingItRanch]

This is actually pretty normal. Chickens will only enter the coop to sleep at night on the roost bars or lay eggs. They spend majority of their time outside the coop.

Sounds like your ladies are just not ready to lay yet. I'd suggest making sure the nest boxes have a fake egg or golf ball in each one and just let nature take its course.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

I have barred rocks. At 21 weeks, depending on season (light levels), you are somewhere between any day now and a month from your first egg.
The coop is their bedroom. You gave them a beautiful lounge and dining room, so the only reason they will use the coop is to sleep or lay.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is actually pretty normal. Chickens will only enter the coop to sleep at night on the roost bars or lay eggs. They spend majority of their time outside the coop.

Sounds like your ladies are just not ready to lay yet. I'd suggest making sure the nest boxes have a fake egg or golf ball in each one and just let nature take its course.

"Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due" is a famous quote often attributed to William Ralph Inge (often referred to as Dean Inge). It metaphorically suggests that worrying about future, unknown problems is a useless, wasteful, and voluntary action, similar to paying interest on a debt that hasn't even come due yet. The quote encourages focusing on the present and not borrowing trouble from the future.

Your pullets are sleeping in there so they know where the nests are. They may or may not use them but putting fake eggs in them can often help. If they start laying somewhere else come back and talk to us but until then it is just a lot of typing for something that is likely to not be a problem.