Hello. I am just getting started with my backyard chickens and have 6 Rhode Island Red hens. I am already very excited about it all and have almost finished building my coop. Right now they are in a 6x6 dog box and are doing just fine! I have a few questions that I would like to ask those that are more experienced than myself.
#1. Is it necessary for the nesting box and the perch to be completely inclosed? Right now they are both covered by a tin roof, but all of the designs I see have them in an enclosed house. The nest box is 4' wide 15" tall and 12" deep with four 12" sections.
#2. I have read that if the perch is lower than the nest box, the chickens will sleep and poo in the nest box. How about if the perch is even with the nest box? I really fo not have room in the coop to make it any higher, so I am hoping that them being level will do the trick....???
#3. The coop is 4x8x4....would yall recommend covering the entire coop with a tin roof or would leave a 2' section open to the sunlight but covered with chicken wire?
Thanks in advance for all of the help and advice!!
#1. Is it necessary for the nesting box and the perch to be completely inclosed? Right now they are both covered by a tin roof, but all of the designs I see have them in an enclosed house. The nest box is 4' wide 15" tall and 12" deep with four 12" sections.
#2. I have read that if the perch is lower than the nest box, the chickens will sleep and poo in the nest box. How about if the perch is even with the nest box? I really fo not have room in the coop to make it any higher, so I am hoping that them being level will do the trick....???
#3. The coop is 4x8x4....would yall recommend covering the entire coop with a tin roof or would leave a 2' section open to the sunlight but covered with chicken wire?
Thanks in advance for all of the help and advice!!
from Ohiio. So glad to have you aboard. The nesting box should not be exposed to the weather elements. My roosts are higher than the nesting boxes and I agree with 1muttsfan on the covering the coop. 
