Mad wet hens are now happy

The lower part of the chicken yard was becoming so muddy that drastic action was called for.  I found someone close to where I live with straw for sale and went and got a truck load.  I threw 3 bales over the muddiest part of the yard where the chickens hang out. They had a lot of fun pecking around in the new straw after that. It was good entertainment for them and exercise too. I also threw them some of their favorite treat, apples, into the straw.  The chickens love any type of scraps they can get. I give them old bread, cereals, chips, fruit and veggies and of course bucket loads of weeds pulled from the garden right next to their yard. 
With the constant rise of chicken feed I need to find additional alternatives to what I have to buy. It is becoming expensive to raise chicken these days.  I always plant a few rows in the vegetable garden of things I know they and the rabbits will eat. Things like carrots, turnips, and sugar beats are great and last in the ground all winter.  I just grab a bunch of something when I feed them and throw it in their yard.
I am debating right now on whether or not to add to my flock this year. I have lost about 30 in the last year and since most of my girls are from last years babies it is not a rush due to lack of production. Mainly a money issue at this point. I have a few months to think about it still.  The hens have increased the production of eggs recently. For about a month I have had only 3 or 4 eggs a week. Now all of a sudden I get 9 a day! Spring must be coming, or it's my wishful thinking again. We had snow just 2 days ago, but I'm hungry for sunshine.