The link EVERYONE is talking about...

Damn... thems some good layers if their dropping eggs on this short of daylight! If it aint broke dont fix it, or light it in this case.

The birds will want a roosting spot. This should be the highest point they can get to. Basically I just ran a 2 x 4 across the top of the coop about a foot from the top. You cant make it too high or they'll have a tough time getting up there. If it were a 6 foot flight up they might have a rough go. The nesting box is strictly for laying eggs. They will shit a lot wherever they roost. Loads of it... if they roost in the nesting box it will get covered in shit and your eggs will do the same. Hens also like a nice dark area to lay eggs. Put some straw or pine chips in the nesting box.

So in summary, chickens like to go up high when they sleep/roost and they'll crap a lot when they do it. To keep them from roosting/sleeping in the nesting box ( and crapping it and the eggs up) you want the nesting box to be lower than and away from the roost.

Poke around that forum some. There is a "chickens 101" section that covers a lot of stuff. It will help a ton. the whole thing is kind of addictive really. I have built 3 different coops for my birds. Each one has gotten a little better... My kids sell our extra eggs to the teachers at school for extra money (young kids think $3 is a lot!).

ahhh i see ok. well this hutch is too small for roost i think i thought i was supposed to make one outside. dammit.. oh well back to the lumber store..

heppy easter!~ well i threw my nice chainsaw on cL for barter for materials to make a nicer coop, i dont want this little thing for them, no room to make a roost in it. Ill save it for a chick house when we decide.. live and learn