bedding question

[cracked hen]

I use pine shavings and bedding straw in my coop. I also put down DE and PDZ in there. Currently trying the deep litter method. I clean poop out of the nesting boxes and off the top of nesting boxes every day. Every few days I rake through the bedding on the floor of the coop. My coop does not seem to smell, but the pen outside does. I put DE and PDZ in the pen, but no straw or shavings in there. I feed them produce and keep the pen clean of any that they do not eat. Their poop seems to be the problem and obviously, it is worse in the summer. Does anyone have suggestions on keeping the smell down in the pen? It is dirt with trees and bushes. I have put pine needles/straw in there, but not sure that actually helped. Ideas?

 

[Andrewdp123]

I have always used hay just because of the dramatic price difference...I guess its a little bit easier to grow grass than trees lol.