One of my Austras picked a contact out of my eye. Didn't hurt at all. She didn't eat it, I disinfected it and put it back in the next day. I keep a little more distance when holding them now.
You don't need to block off the nesting boxes unless they start hanging out in them. My 6 week old chicks went right to the roost which is higher than the nests.
I started with straw in the bottom of my coop, but switched to pine chips. Much easier to maintain in my opinion. HTH.
funny you mention securing the light, I made a special trip out to put a screw in it after three visions of burning straw.
I have a larger vent on the man door side, I closed the Eves in with small pieces of plywood keep critters out and putting in 1/2 x 1/2 mesh today while the girls play in...