How often should I clean out the chicken coop?

I have set up my chicken's night area under the highest part of my pool deck. They are free range within my privacy fence, and go under the deck during the hottest part of the day and at night. So my question is, how often should I clean out the straw I have as bedding on the ground? Or should I just fluff it around? I only have three chickens, so I don't have a ton of poo, but there is poo of course. I have a tarp over the deck to keep it as dry as possible under there, but it still gets a little damp if the rain comes down sideways or really hard. I currently have one square bale spread out, should I have more or less? Any input is appreciated!





Pictures are from when I was first setting it up, I currently have hanging buckets for food and water. But still need to put a roosting pole/rod up since they are roosting on the nests and causing a mess in the nests. I also want to level the nests, just got to put that on the "honey-do" list and make sure he does it! lol

 

Thanks for all the feed back! I guess I will only clean it out about every 4-6 months as I see fit then. And let my husband use the "used" hay for planting grass.

Thanks BetterHomesandGardens! I figured it was wasted space under there, might as well use it for something! And the chickens make great bug catchers so that being in the backyard is more pleasurable. And the only way I could talk my hubby into letting me get a few!

 

lol I am planning on letting them raise a brood or two. Sell the new roosters and keep the hens for eggs. But that is a future thing since they haven't even started laying eggs yet!