Then you should go right on doing things the way you do them. I like the fact that my chickens turn it into garden mulch, it works quite well here and I'm quite happy with it. I am just sharing MY experiences, NOT telling YOU to do what I do.
I have one covered and one uncovered run, and use hay in both. I rake/turn the hay every day to keep it fluffy and dry, and spread fresh hay on top frequently. Occasionally I shovel it all out and use it for mulch in veg garden, and start over with fresh hay in the runs.
The hay in the...