On a budget...
Any size boxes roughly 12x12x12 inches for nest boxes...milk crates...produce boxes. The size can be bigger, too. Or you could have one, long box for a community nest box. Elevated is better than on the ground. If you raised them 20-24 inches then the chickens could walk beneath them. A 2x4 placed in front of the entrance to the boxes (spanning a couple of cement blocks maybe) will help the hens to hop up to them. Be sure that your roosts are higher than your next boxes. Position the nest boxes (if you can) on the side of the coop that the morning sun *doesn't* shine on...the hens like to be in the shadows/hidden when laying. Some people even put little curtains up in front of the nest box entrances.
Roosts... Up higher than the nest boxes. If the nest boxes are higher then the chickens probably will roost in the boxes...a "no no". Make your roosts out of 2x4 lumber laid on their side so that the chickens sit on the wide side. One foot per chicken.is about minimum spacing...a single 10' 2x4 would work for your nine chickens...or a couple of 5' 2x4s....or if you're expecting to increase your flock then a couple of 10-footers. If you go with two poles then place them level with each other...helps reduce fussing over who gets the higher roost. Don't place them too high...just higher than the nest boxes...big birds coming down from a tall roost can injure their legs,etc.,. You can also make the little ladders (like at the pop door going out) for the chickens to walk up to their roosts on...same thing for the nest boxes.
Figure out how you are going to manage the chicken poop/manure. Beneath the roost will be the highest concentration of it. Some people use roost (poop) boards beneath the roost poles to collect the poop before it hits the floor...they love the roost boards. They're wide boards, usually sprinkled with PDZ or shavings or... to help absorb the poop. Other people...hate them. Read up on them some and make your choice.
If you go with a roost board then you might could install your nests beneath the poop board *or* you could install your feeder and waterer there.
Feeders... I really like the five-gallon bucket feeders with the 4" elbows...it's a DIY feeder and it works extremely well. Also, consider 'fermented feed'....basically a portion of your feed (mash or pellets) mixed with an equal amount of water. Let this sit for 3-4 days, stirring a few times a day. It is *very* nutritional, stinks a bit
, the chickens love it, and it's reported that it can cut your feed bill down by two-thirds!!! This is simply fed in a trough, dog bowl, etc.,...it's kind of an oatmeal consistency.
Waterer... I think the DIY *horizontal* chicken nipple waterers are some of the better ones. I'm planning on rigging up an old Igloo water cooler to some pvc pipe and horizontal nipples...in hot weather I can drop a little ice in there to help cool'em off a little. Lots of ways to work with the nipple waters. The horizontal nipples don't link as much as the vertical ones do....go with the horizontal ones.
Be sure to use heavy screen over your windows...1/2" or smaller hardware cloth (or even heavier screen than this!). Be sure to have plenty of ventilation built into the coop.
What type of floor surface are you going to have? Dirt, wood, shavings, sand, cement, etc.,.???
Best wishes, I hope this helps get you started on some ideas.
Ed
