External Nest Boxes, How to attach?

[MeowCluckBark]

So I got a coop for free from someone, cleaned it up, going to paint and make some minor repairs. I want to change the nesting area, which is a wooden box on a shelf inside, to an external nesting box setup for 2-3 nests. There is already a flap opening to the nest ledge inside where the boxes were. I believe it would need to be made a bit bigger for my girls since they are going to be crazy huge. I want to have the nest boxes on the outside for even easier access and to give more room inside for romping and roaming. How do you attach the nest box setup to the coop opening itself? I've been trying to figure this out and I can't seem to see what it is I'm looking for.

Words are great
Pictures are better
Diagrams are perfect

Thanks in advance for your communal knowledge!

 

[AtholCoop]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=16357-small-coop-tutorial

About half-way down the page is how I do it.

 

[MeowCluckBark]

Thanks! That makes perfect sense. I see that there is a small frame using the 1x2 there to attach the box to the coop securely. Wouldn't it be awful if one of my Jersey Giant hens climb up in there and it can't hold their 10 lb butts? Oh god I can see it now. I'll get no eggs for a whole season then

 

[spotstealer]

I built mine very similar to Atholcoop's design, except I used all 2X4's. I don't have any pictures to share. My coop is framed just like a house, all walls are 16" on center, roof and floor are 24" on center with 2X6 lumber. I built mine modular, with the nesting boxes built (three nesting boxes) built seperately, then attached. I framed the opening like a window/ door opening on a house. When I built the nesting box, I extended the 2X4 at each corner so it would insert into the opening, then I screwed them right into the framing on the coop. I can stand on top without it collapsing. I then sealed completely around the box to keep drafts out, then trimmed it to match the rest of the coop.

 

[spotstealer]

I forgot to mention that I pitched the floor of the nesting box to allow the eggs to roll toward the outside wall and access door of the box.

 

[AtholCoop]

Quote:
For the record with 3/8's plywood and 2x2's for the framing I picked up the entire weight of a 4x8 coop by grabbing the nest box. If it'll hold that weight you will have no worries with the weight of a bird. I've stood on my nest boxes and I'm 200+ pounds too.

 

[Hoosierchickens]

I just added the design of my external nest boxes on my BYC page and how I attached them if you're interested.