Chicken coops need to meet the needs of both the chickens and the chicken rancher – you! Be sure the chickens are comfortable. Give them enough room to move around and spread their wings. Relaxed, unworried chickens will give you more eggs, so give them as much of a normal, stress-free life as you can.

Providing more space also helps them feel normal by encouraging their instinct to peck at the ground. Spreading some feed in the morning can also help encourage the natural pecking instinct.

Providing a nesting area that is both safe and comfortable will ensure excellent egg production. The size and shape of your nesting box will be based on your local weather patterns. Ask around and find out what type of box your neighbors have built. Whatever design you settle on, make sure their is plenty of space to lay eggs. Several hen chickens may use the same nest, but they can also be very picky and want their own space. Their main priority is to make sure their chicks will hatch in a warm, protected environment. Keep the nesting area away from the hustle and bustle of the feeding trough.

Give your chickens cut straw or some hay to mimic what they might find in the wild. Fluffy sawdust can work too, but try to avoid wood chips. Young chicks often mistake it for their food; eating too much wood can kill them. For mature chickens, however, wood chips can be a possible choice.

For your own comfort, make sure the eggs are easy to collect. You will be coming to the coop every day or so; make it as easy on yourself as possible. Accessible nests also mean less disturbance for the chickens. Less disturbance means less stress and less stress means more eggs for you. For a box style nest with several nesting areas, a hinged roof is simple and easy to use. If your nesting area is open, it should be easy to reach the back corners from the front for ease of collection.

Protect your nesting area from the elements and from predators. Cover them with a good, sturdy roof that can repel water and wind. In colder climates, you might want to provide a heat lamp for your chickens. You can provide a lot of security with the proper design, but remember that placing nests and the coop itself in less trafficked areas is also a good idea.

Now you are ready to go out and build your own coop. Safe secure chicken coops are the secret to happy chickens and happy chickens are the secret to getting more eggs.