I started building my "ark" style coop using a rough sketch that had the approximate size and list of building materials that I found on a website. No instructions on building it tho so I am "winging" it. I am going to use hardware cloth on the top third of one side of the coop portion of the ark with clear plastic on the bottom 2/3rds for light. The coop area is 5.5' x 28" wide. I am planning on putting the roost lenghtwise down the middle.
My question is all the spaces around the sides and bottom where the wood doesn't meet. I thought I had built it incorrectly, or it is a design flaw since there is about a 3/4" gap where the wood is not flush with the frame due to the 1 x 3s used to anchor the sides and door flaps. I was going to cover the spaces up, but now I am wondering if they are for ventilation?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I live in Huntington Beach, CA so we have pretty nice weather here most of the time. We get frost at night a few times in the winter and usually light ocean breezes in the afternoons. This is a side view of the coop so you can see the spaces that I am concerned about.

My question is all the spaces around the sides and bottom where the wood doesn't meet. I thought I had built it incorrectly, or it is a design flaw since there is about a 3/4" gap where the wood is not flush with the frame due to the 1 x 3s used to anchor the sides and door flaps. I was going to cover the spaces up, but now I am wondering if they are for ventilation?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I live in Huntington Beach, CA so we have pretty nice weather here most of the time. We get frost at night a few times in the winter and usually light ocean breezes in the afternoons. This is a side view of the coop so you can see the spaces that I am concerned about.