Coop inside building?

[janespromos]

I built a small "barn" approx 10x12 that will be home to my 4 hens. Roof is clear plastic panels, approx 6-7 feet of head space, windows that can open on 3 sides. They'll be going into a chicken tractor on nice days, and staying in the barn on bad ones. Open floor right now, so I am puzzling over the best roost/nest box arrangement for them.

How far above the floor (dirt with litter) should the nest boxes & roosts be? At this point, I can build whatever I want/need.

Need suggestions asap as hens arrive in May.

 

[HenryHughes]

Nest boxes are best at about 18"-24" above the ground. Other thing to consider is keeping these separate from the rest of the coop. I have a divider wall that separates the nest boxes from the roosts. My chickens seem to love the privacy as well as the dark. And don't forget, if you're boxes are off the ground they need a perch out front so they aren't hopping straight into the boxes.