What's going on? Need some advice :)

[Chicky Joy]

I have 8 hens that are all energetic and happy. They are eating and drinking well. I've noticed a small amount of sneezing pretty much since we go the birds in June (at 17 weeks old). I figured it was mostly from food dust. I did notice today that one hen was sneezing quite a bit. They were started pullets when I got them so they arrived with trimmed beaks. The one that sneezes the most has the shortest beak. The top part of her beak is very short but the bottom sticks out quite a bit more. Could this be causing her to sneeze more? I also noticed today that she is wheezing. What could cause wheezing?

I checked her over for any other abnormalities. She seemed fine otherwise.

I did read a thread on here about Infectious Bronchitis. I've been paranoid ever since. The shape of some of our eggs has been ever so slightly off lately. What else could cause the variations in egg shape?

We've had crazy weather with extreme temperature variations and quite a bit of rain. In fact the chickens insisted on staying out in the cold rain about four days ago. I finally locked them inside the coop until the rain subsided. They have also been given oyster shell for the first time within the last three weeks. I'm not sure if any of these things are causing any of the oddities around here or not.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm terrified after reading that IB thread a few weeks ago. I also have 6 chicks that are 2 weeks old and are kept in the basement.

 

[Chicky Joy]

Ok, I've done some research for the last half hour or more. I'm not as freaked out by this IB issue as I was.

My main concern now is for the chicken that is sneezing a lot and wheezing. Could this be related to her trimmed beak? Should I do anything for her? She really didn't appreciate being pestered. In fact, when I had her sitting on the edge of a nesting box so I could examine her nostrils and such one of my other chickens decided to jump onto my back while I was bent over. I'm sure this was a very funny sight. It took me a long time to get her to hop down. That means I was wandering around the coop/run for a long time, bent over, with a crazy chicken on my back.

LOL That was a first for me.

 

[SpottedCrow]

She might have food dust getting stuck because she has to put her face further down into the feed bowl...

 

[kinnip]

I have a few who fly to my back. I always stand up (slowly) and either they climb to my shoulder, or they hop off. With the misshapen eggs, it very well may be IB. I'd isolate her just in case. I'm not sure about the beak, but if you've read all the IB threads you have a load of info to work with. I hope they get well soon.

 

[Chicky Joy]

I think the recent increase in sneezing is probably connected to the stubborn birdies standing out in the cold rain a few days ago. Any other thoughts?