Post trauma water belly

[Mamagirl3]

One of our hens probably was attacked? Was normal 2 hours before dark. Never looked for a problem when closed up coop. In the morning her right wing was drooping and she wasnt walking normal. Found feathers gone on right side with some skin missing and some just pushed back bunched up. At that point we thought it must have happened in the 2 hour time frame before roosting the night before. Soaked her with little epsom salt and betadine in the water. She liked that! When i picked her up with a towel around her and sat down.. she snuggled up and put her head in the bend of my arm and went sound to sleep! Let her rest a bit-- then sprayed with vetricyn and slathered on a layer of neosporin. Started her with the only antibiotic i had on hand - 250mg cephalexin- placed her in a "hospital cage" with food and water. She didnt eat her normal appetite but she did eat and drink off and on. And readily enjoyed a few mealy worms in the afternoon. Continued with oral anibiotics and reapplying ointment .. that day and the next day. Now it is day 3 and she has an obvious bulge that feels firm-squishy under her vent. No discoloration and seems the same she has been since injured. Due to the size we think we should drain this. But everything we read says that she will not live from ascites.. draining is for comfort??? I am prepared to drain this fluid-- hospital table all set up! BUT.. if this is indicative of an underlying problem and she will die anyway... should it be drained? Only difference we can see in her this morning other than the bulging under her vent is that she didnt eat as much.. but she DID EAT. And she doesnt want to walk much.. before she sits down. Which we assume is due to the water balloon on her bottom? When we talk to her she answers with her same little sounds she always has.
*** PLEASE ADVISE*** how to proceed from here??
Thank you very much!

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t drain my hens with suspected ascites/water belly. The only one I did drain had very labored breathing, and it helped for a few days. It can however confirm water belly if you get yellow/amber fluid out. If you drain
, use an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the site, and just insert it into her abdominal wall 1/4-1/2 inch. She may drip for a few hours after the needle is removed. If you have pictures of her lower belly under then vent or he wounds, that would be helpful. Read post 66 in the following thread for pictures of draining:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-7

 

[Mamagirl3]

I don’t drain my hens with suspected ascites/water belly. The only one I did drain had very labored breathing, and it helped for a few days. It can however confirm water belly if you get yellow/amber fluid out. If you drain
, use an 18 gauge needle after disinfecting the site, and just insert it into her abdominal wall 1/4-1/2 inch. She may drip for a few hours after the needle is removed. If you have pictures of her lower belly under then vent or he wounds, that would be helpful. Read post 66 in the following thread for pictures of draining:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-7

What happens to the fluid if not drained? Is it wrong to think this might not be a fatal situation like from organ failure, but, related to trauma and/or stress from trauma? I guess I am confused on whether we should continue wound care and treatment to prevent infection if there is nothing we can do for the ascites? I understand there is no cure for ascites itself... it is caused from an underlying condition... but since we assumed this was caused from the trauma i didnt think the possibility it would be the same fatal ending like liver disease,etal. Thank you for replying ... and helping me ... by not removing this fluid.
P.S.. i did look at your pic on #66. My girl has a larger bulge i think? But might just look like that cause it is also emotional when i am seeing that on her!