I use a deep litter method in my coops. It is best to use oak or some such leaves as the litter (due to their carbon content) -- I use mainly the white & red oak and the tulip poplar leaves which are the trees around me. In the fall when the leaves are too plentiful, I fill up the coops. Also, it is important to keep the litter mostly dry (the only moisture being when I clean the lip of the 3 gallon waterers sometimes, I empty on the coop floor (my floors are dirt at the base)). Never change out the litter completely but remove some (which becomes a rich compost soil as the chickens will turn it, dig deep holes in it and take dust baths) & add the dried leaves raked from your yard each season. This requires little management and will control the smell. If you want to, try piling dried leaves in your run; the carbon of the leaves will offset the nitrogen in the chicken manure. Never use green plant material as the litter. I scrap (weekly) excess chicken manure off the roosts that collects up -- this goes in my compost pile (which my chickens have access to and keep turned as well). A well managed system, such as this, virtually has no smell.
I wouldn't put fresh droppings in an actively growing vegetable garden....
