I actually have two chicken coops, one for my Silkies that is small (3’ by 3.5’) and the other for my full size chickens, which is larger (8’ x 8’), and I use fine pine shavings for both. I like pine because it’s cheap, and I like the fine size because it’s most absorbent and easy to clean, IMO. I get bags from the feed store for about $8 a piece, and it takes about three bags to cover my big coop or 1/2 a bag for my small coop. I generally only need to buy maybe six to eight bags a month since my chickens free range.
I do use the deep litter method for the large coop (which is a walk in coop), but I regularly change the bedding on the small coop.
However, my chickens free range from the minute I get up (usually around 9) until the sun sets, so they aren’t exactly sitting in it all day and there is WAY less poop in there than people who have attached runs get.
The big coop is super ventilated (since this is Texas and the heat is often over a hundred degrees, I built it where three of the walls turn into hardware mesh halfway up, which I cover with plastic during the few cold months we get). So much ventilation keeps it aired out and there is never any smell or ammonium build up. I do remove it once it’s been built up for about six months and add it to my compost pile, where it quickly becomes garden gold!
I really like the deep litter method for large, well ventilated coops—especially if your chickens are only in there at night—but am not such a big fan of it for small coops. My cousin keeps nine full size chickens in a TINY coop (one of those plastic things that Omelet claims can hold up to ten chickens but really should only have about three) and a small attached run, and she uses the deep litter method. Both the run and the coop are disgusting. I was incredibly confused why she thought chickens were smelly (my coops have no real smell beyond sawdust and hay) until I saw her setup, and I was like... yeah...
your chickens smell because they are living in unsanitary conditions. Mine don’t because I don’t leave their crap to build up under their feet all day.
I think the problem with the deep litter method is that a lot of people do it wrong. It DOESN’T mean you use any less shavings, and it doesn’t mean you leave the coop dirty. The most important thing to remember with the deep litter method is that your coop should still look and smell clean! If there is enough poo showing that you would want to clean it, cover it up with at least two inches of fresh litter. Don’t leave the babies sitting in their poopoo! They will just end up with worms.