I have had my chickens since June. We have been using the deep litter method in the covered run and in the coop. I haven't cleaned anything out of the run or coop since we started. There hasn't been any smell, other that a dirt like smell. Leaves, straw, mulch, grass clippings, etc. in the run and pine shavings in the coop. I have sprayed the litter in the run several times because it was so dry. It is very dry in the coop, also. The poop dries out but doesn't seem to break down. I thought I read somewhere at some point that it might be necessary to add moisture to the coop to help it to break down. I sprayed water in the coop yesterday and that made it smell like ammonia. So, what is the deep litter method supposed to be like in the coop? Really dry? Does it just break down really, really slowly? Thanks!