That's what I do too, Rose...I just rake up leaves, pine needles, small twigs, pine cones, hay and other yard debris and put it right into my coop. I have deer hair, ancient turtle shells, bones, sticks, feathers...you name it, whatever was in the yard got tossed into the coop to be buried into the DL. This coop just EATS my bedding materials unless they are pine shavings..they last a bit longer but are slowly getting composted as well. The grass around the coop has grown more and more lush and green with time as the rich nutrients get washed into the surrounding soils by the heavy rains we've had this year.
I love the diversity of the bedding materials and the texture they lend to the litter pack as they have different levels of moisture retention than if it were just one thing, such as all shavings or all leaves. As poop gets dropped under the roosts, every few days or so if the chickens haven't done it for me, I'll take the pitchfork and lightly toss some bedding on top of it or turn it under a little. There is absolutely no smells or flies in this coop, even after rain, heat and humidity...no smells. Just clean, earthy, outdoors...can't tell chickens live there. My ol' ma is constantly amazed and wished she had tried that back in her day.
