Is an "inside Coop- section" important?

[Minky]

My 2 main coops are inside my barn, and my hens free range. In my large rooster/grow out pen, attached to the barn, I just have open space and roosts. Its where I house all my excess roosters. Well, now that most of the roosters are gone...and I want to do some breeding this year 1:1 and a few trios...I am dividing it into 4 sections. They will be 4 separate smaller coops I can use for roosters, mating trios or quads, or to place youngsters in different developmental stages. They are each about 50-70- sq ft., under a metal roof, hardware cloth on 2 sides, heated waterers and dirt floor (with chicken wire to a 2 ft depth for safety. ) They will each have a chicken door so I can free range any of the groups individually.

I will place a nest box or two in each pen if its for breeders, but I was not going to build any sort of "house" for them to sleep in- just a roost.

Is there any reason chickens (hens) need to feel enclosed or confined?
The grow out pen is 15x 17 made of hardware cloth on 2 sides, plywood on one side, and the metal barn wall on the 4th side. From mid October to April I have poly on all the hardware cloth. The temperatures will get to below freezing, but just a bit. Frostbite shouldn't be an issue, it wasn't at all last year.

Just wondering if I need to think about building the nest boxes into a house, with the sleeping roost?? I am really hoping not to.

 

[NatJ]

Is there any reason chickens (hens) need to feel enclosed or confined?

No reason at all.

I notice you have:
--Protection from rain, snow, wind, shade from the sun
--Safe from predators
--Nestboxes to lay eggs
--A roost to sleep on
--Feed & water
--Enough space, and plenty of ventilation

It sounds good to me!

 

[rosemarythyme]

No they don't. It does add extra security if you have larger predators, as well as better climate protection, however if you address both those things with your set up there's no reason for a 4-wood-wall coop.

 

[Minky]

Excellent- thank you to you both for your quick replies!