Technically....your coop/run are about the right size for 6 chickens, so that could be a little bit of your problem. I also think the pine shavings are MUCH easier to work with. You definitely trade some ease of use with the money savings. I suppose you could try sand in the coop itself...I haven't ever tried that, but it would be easy to scoop the poop out(?) More expensive, though, for sure.
Were they eating the eggs before you took out the other nest box? Generally, for 8 chickens, I would have 2 boxes in there...even if they only seem to use one. When they try to cram 2 hens in at once, it's easy for eggs to break.
Do you have roosts? Is it possible to put a poop shelf under the roost in the coop? That saves an amazing amount of work for me, as most of their pooping inside is done while they roost.
Good luck with whatever you try! You definitely want it to be something you can enjoy!
Were they eating the eggs before you took out the other nest box? Generally, for 8 chickens, I would have 2 boxes in there...even if they only seem to use one. When they try to cram 2 hens in at once, it's easy for eggs to break.
Do you have roosts? Is it possible to put a poop shelf under the roost in the coop? That saves an amazing amount of work for me, as most of their pooping inside is done while they roost.
Good luck with whatever you try! You definitely want it to be something you can enjoy!