I thought I was crazy, my chickens have started to have problems with their eggs too. Soft or no shells, and just not rock hard like they use to be. I still put out oyster shells and could not understand what was going on. I got a new feeder and I thought they couldn't get at the food properly...
I throw some on the ground to see if they would like it and they snatched it right up. So I put it in their big feeder and they are very happy and satisfied with it. I like it. They don't waste any, it is smaller and they seem to think of it as something pretty good.
So far my dried pine needles are working out good.I can scoop out poop easier than when it is straw. I would think you would want to dry yours first a little more. My pine needles had fallen off a huge white pine and all I did was raked them up. You don't want moisture in the coop for this...
It has been a few years on this post. Has anyone had any problems using dried pine needles for their bedding? I have had them in the coop for a couple of months. I don't see any problems. Any thing new to add?