- Sep 19, 2011
- 3
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I just drained a lot of fluid from my 3 year old Barred Rock hen and my only regret is that I didn't do it a week ago. She is doing so much better now.
Symptoms: VERY swollen lower abdomen, skin was bright red and hot to the touch. Her belly was not hard, but soft like a water balloon.
She was walking slowly and awkwardly with her legs spread out wide like a cowboy's. She was still eating and pooping, but not moving around much. Standing around in the yard with her tail down - "penguin stand" style. I would carry her to the coop each night, and I think the fluid was pressing on her lungs because she would start to gasp. She was also starting to look really sad with drooping eyes. I was afraid to try draining her, but at that point I knew it was drain her or euthanize her.
Here's exactly what I did:
-trimmed away a lot of feathers around her backside and belly.
-cleaned the skin really well with Triadine.
-laid her on her side on a towel, put another towel over her head. she was very quiet.
-cleaned a new eXacto blade with rubbing alcohol and Triadine.
-chose a spot below and just to the right of her vent--it seemed like there was a lot of fluid there just under the skin, and I didn't think I would hit an organ with my blade.
-made a very small, very shallow incision with the blade. About 1/3" long, and less than 1mm deep.
-a small drop of blood appeared and then steady fast drips of clear yellow-tinged liquid.
-washed the incision really well with diluted Triadine sprayed from a bottle.
-the towel got soaked pretty fast with fluid and she was still very bloated, so I put her down in the yard. She stood up right away, gobbled some food, and ran off to peck the younger chickens.
-she was noticeably more energetic right away, and progressively more so throughout the day. The fluid continued to drain all day.
-I squirted the incision with diluted Triadine a few more times during the day and before shutting her in for the night. Then again the next day.
She seems completely normal now. Perky, running around, nice and frisky. And her posture is totally different--tail up and head high instead of that awful "penguin stand." Hooray! I have my sweet little pet back!
Symptoms: VERY swollen lower abdomen, skin was bright red and hot to the touch. Her belly was not hard, but soft like a water balloon.
She was walking slowly and awkwardly with her legs spread out wide like a cowboy's. She was still eating and pooping, but not moving around much. Standing around in the yard with her tail down - "penguin stand" style. I would carry her to the coop each night, and I think the fluid was pressing on her lungs because she would start to gasp. She was also starting to look really sad with drooping eyes. I was afraid to try draining her, but at that point I knew it was drain her or euthanize her.
Here's exactly what I did:
-trimmed away a lot of feathers around her backside and belly.
-cleaned the skin really well with Triadine.
-laid her on her side on a towel, put another towel over her head. she was very quiet.
-cleaned a new eXacto blade with rubbing alcohol and Triadine.
-chose a spot below and just to the right of her vent--it seemed like there was a lot of fluid there just under the skin, and I didn't think I would hit an organ with my blade.
-made a very small, very shallow incision with the blade. About 1/3" long, and less than 1mm deep.
-a small drop of blood appeared and then steady fast drips of clear yellow-tinged liquid.
-washed the incision really well with diluted Triadine sprayed from a bottle.
-the towel got soaked pretty fast with fluid and she was still very bloated, so I put her down in the yard. She stood up right away, gobbled some food, and ran off to peck the younger chickens.
-she was noticeably more energetic right away, and progressively more so throughout the day. The fluid continued to drain all day.
-I squirted the incision with diluted Triadine a few more times during the day and before shutting her in for the night. Then again the next day.
She seems completely normal now. Perky, running around, nice and frisky. And her posture is totally different--tail up and head high instead of that awful "penguin stand." Hooray! I have my sweet little pet back!