How do I help my water belly chicken

[GracePoultry]

Hi I have a chicken with water belly. It’s weighing her down and messing with her overall movement.
I’m scared to drain her but I know that I need to. What size syringe should I get?
Also how do I insert the syringe correctly?

 

[RedHillChicken]

Hi I have a chicken with water belly. It’s weighing her down and messing with her overall movement.
I’m scared to drain her but I know that I need to. What size syringe should I get?
Also how do I insert the syringe correctly?

@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@coach723

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Do you have a picture of her lower belly under her vent? Does she lay eggs normally or has she had soft or abnormal shells? I don’t drain my hens with suspected water belly/ascites, since it is not a curable condition. Only once, did I drain one who was my favorite, and she was having labored breathing and the swelling in her lower belly was sudden. Normally you would disinfect the area and use an 18 gauge hypodermic needle with or without a large syringe to insert just into the abdominal cavity1/2 inch or less.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here in post 66 of the thread below is a good picture of draining a hen:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-7

 

[GracePoultry]

Ok she was super full. My mom let me buy some 18 gauge syringes. I drained her by filling up a 12ml syringe twice but there is still a lot more fluid but I’m going to let her alone for today and do it later tomorrow. Still a lot of pressure but she already got some relief from the fluid that was taken out and she seems a bit more happy. After I sprayed in blue kit because there was a little blood from the hole. Is that normal?

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually more fluid will drain from the needle site. A towel,under them can soak up the fluid. If you leave the needle in place while watching her the fluid may keep draining. How much blood are you seeing? Could you have nicked something? Blood will clot the needle in time. Was the fluid yellow or amber? You can use a 35 ml syringe to withdraw fluid. As I said, I don’t normally drain them, only to ease breathing. The usual causes of water belly are salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, or heart failure.

 

[GracePoultry]

Usually more fluid will drain from the needle site. A towel,under them can soak up the fluid. If you leave the needle in place while watching her the fluid may keep draining. How much blood are you seeing? Could you have nicked something? Blood will clot the needle in time. Was the fluid yellow or amber? You can use a 35 ml syringe to withdraw fluid. As I said, I don’t normally drain them, only to ease breathing. The usual causes of water belly are salpingitis, egg yolk peritonitis, cancer, or heart failure.

Thanks. It was amber, there was just 2 drops of blood. It it possible I nicked her, but I don’t think I did.

 

[roxyrousealvarado]

I've got a 6 yr old white leghorn that has waterbelly my question is can i drain her too much I e had to drain her once a week and I've done it three times now is it bad to drain her so much . She needs it because she can't breathe right ect. Please if anyone can answer this question ASAP I'd appreciate it.

 

[Debbie292d]

I've got a 6 yr old white leghorn that has waterbelly my question is can i drain her too much I e had to drain her once a week and I've done it three times now is it bad to drain her so much . She needs it because she can't breathe right ect. Please if anyone can answer this question ASAP I'd appreciate it.

If she can't breath well, then go ahead. That's the main reason why it's done. Good luck and hope she feels better soon!

 

[roxyrousealvarado]

If she can't breath well, then go ahead. That's the main reason why it's done. Good luck and hope she feels better soon!

Thank you so much I've had that question burning in my mind every time I drank her. She does so much better afterwards at least for 5 days then she's down again but she's do happy afterwards I love to see my baby back getting into stuff and stealing the roosters food through his cage lol! She lost @2 of her friends a year ago and she misses them so she just bugs the hell out of our rooster she's a funny bunny!it's still real hard for me to see her so sick before I drain her. But it's worth it to see her back to herself not completely but enough as long as it's working for her I'll continue to do so until her time comes. I enjoy every minute of every day I have with her. Thanks for the prompt answer. Sending good vibes your way from Chicky and I.

If she can't breath well, then go ahead. That's the main reason why it's done. Good luck and hope she feels better soon!