Ascites is brought on by heart failure very similar to congestive heart failure in humans. It is quite common in extremely fast growing birds such as commercial broiler chickens but is very rare though possible in standard young chicks. Ascites is not an immediate death sentence. We had a OEGB that lived with it for 3 years. We would just drain her about every 4 months or so. There is a slight possibility that it could also be peritonitis which is an infection of the egg sack that also causes swelling of the abdominal cavity. Either way you are up to a challenge. You can certainly try to drain the abdominal cavity of the chick but you will need a pretty hefty needle and a large syringe to do it. On our little OEGB we used a 12 guage needle on a 60cc syringe. If that is your course of action then I would suggest a 16 or 18 guage needle on a large syringe. Insert it half way between the vent and the end of the keel bone just deep enough to get liquid. The liquid should be slightly yellow in color. Slowly draw out as much liquid as possible. After removing the needle you may still have extra drainage which is ok, allow it to drain. Keep the chick in a seperate pen for observation. There generally is not a secondary infection associated with draining abdominal cavities but you can give a broad spectrum antibiotic just in case. Continue to work with the chick to drink and eat.
