Could someone recommend a good book or web site that shows designs of chicken coops and laying boxes. I'm trying to get some good ideas on how to build nesting boxes and what kind of an environment is required within the coop. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh, if there is anyone within my area (Tyler, Texas) that is interested in some FREE roosters, we have some that are going to have to find a new home. We simply don't have the room for these roosters and they starting to fight. One point to mention, these roosters are not for eating, they must become part of your family. They are gorgous in color, tan, brown, black, orange. We have two that are twin brothers. So if you are interested send an E-mail (chase1@tyler.net).

I don't know of a good web site, but the average nesting boxes need to be a little over 12in. on each side. They like to lay in a darkish place. Keep the inside dry. We have a bird dog, so when we built the yard, we just covered the whole thing with chicken wire. It's like they are free ranging, but they are protected. You need to hang the nesting boxes off of the ground, and to discourage them from sleeping in their nesting boxes, I heard that you can hang a curtain type thing in front of the entrance (I don't know how accurate that is, though). You need to keep fresh bedding on the ground and in the nesting boxes, and change it if it gets wet, starts smelling (try to before that becomes an issue)...etc. The coop needs to be well insulated and non drafty. If it gets really hot in the summer, you might want to design part of the wall to open so that they can get a breeze. Other than that, there shouldn't be any draft. Be sure and keep the water and food where they cannot poop in it. And at least once a year, give the inside of your coop a good scrub down (i.e. get an old toothbrush and srub the grains in the wood on their perches to discourage mites, lice and all those nasty parasites. I hope that this information helps you! Good luck.

~Angela

Maybe you will find some ideas on : gjosinga or on The Chook Shed there are some others, can't remember them right now.
Of course you will have to adapt to climate, number, etc. If you give more details, maybe you'll get more ideas.

Apparently the link does not work, try again :
Chook shed

And again :
www.webone.com.au/~greggles/index.html

The plans that I am using are on the Chook Shed: Chicken Condo. I didnt get them there but that site appears to have a nice variety of ideas.

I chose this one for several reasons: It looks nice (wife & neighbors wont complain), the design fits in well with the yard, is big enough to store supplies and can be used as a shed or kids playhouse if this chicken thing does not work out.

Good luck!

I don't know a website but if you can find the book called "ABC of Poultry Riasing" that shows how to build coops, boxes, etc. Hope I helped.

I too am looking for coop designs, plans, etc., and tried the above Chook Shed site. I couldn't find the coop designs/plans. Is there a specific locale on the site? I'm feeling a bit stupid here, but need the info.

I hope It's not too late. I have been searching for the same info. Here is a web site. thttp://www.backyardchickens.com/roosts_nests2.html

Oops... that address didn't work, try this address.

BackyardChickens.com

My flock of 40 odd hens have a large nesting box which is approx.6feet long, 2 feet high and 2 feet deep with one opening on the end and the entire front has a hinged door that opens to clean layer as well as collect eggs..the problem is the chickens lay their eggs in usually 2 spots resulting in many eggs in 2 spots as the hens walk back and forth in the layer eggs get broken and they eat them, plus they scratch in the hay bedding which lines this layer.I need a better design for a layer large enough for new flock of 50 hens..any ideas?Why are they scratching in the layer? Thanks Trudy in Ontario

They will scratch in the bedding material in the nests to find any loose pieces of shell, and also to look for grain missed in the combining process. When my hens begin to scratch in the nests I always take it as a sign that they need fresh bedding on the floor of the coop.
In your layer boxes, as large as they are, what about trying to put divider boards in the back part of the nest area, and make an effort to keep the bedding behind this board toward the back wall. This might give them a cleaner place to walk, but encourage them to lay their eggs more out of the path. You could also leave the hinged door open after putting this board in so the hens can see where they are walking better. Try keeping the area behind the board full of very clean bedding for a while, and you might also use a wooden egg or golf ball or two to encourage the hens to lay in different places. If everyone has two favorite places, put a golf ball in two different places to help them avoid crunching the eggs that are already there. Hope this helps.