Update: I thought pine shavings in the coop were a gimmick, 4 months later I'm eating my words
I had been using straw for years because that's what my grandpa always did, and when folks on here kept pushing pine shavings I figured it was just internet noise. After 4 months of trying them in my 8x10 coop with 11 hens, the difference is honestly wild, way less smell and I'm only cleaning it out every 3 weeks instead of every 10 days. I think the biggest thing was how fast the poop dries out on the shavings instead of clumping up like it did with straw. It's not a cure all for everything, I still have to deal with the dust in summer, but I was wrong about the whole thing. Anyone else switch from straw and notice that, or is it just my setup?
Went through the same thing with my setup. Used straw for years and figured shavings were just hype from folks who wanted to sell you something. Gave them a shot last fall and the smell difference hit me within a week or two. Poop dries out and flakes off instead of turning into that wet matted mess straw gets, so raking it out is way less gross. Cleaning went from every week and a half to about every three weeks for me too. Dust is a real thing in the dry months though, I'll crack a window or stir it up before I go in. Glad it's working out for you.