Redstar w/ waterfilled/bloated belly, graphic pic pg3

[mjelse]

The other thing I have done with really sick hens who could not stand is fill a box with straw, then make a deep hole to support the breast and head while leaving lots of room for the abdomen to hang down with all that fluid. That seemed to relieve the respiratory distress and made the birds feel comfortable and secure.

 

[mjelse]

Also, I forgot to say - almost if not all of my hens with this problem have been redstars. It is kind of an issue for me because they tend to be VERY nice birds and so I was willing to work pretty hard to keep them going and to make sure they had a comfortable exit. I never had one live longer than four years (sniff).

 

[meriruka]

I don't have any straw. What if I rolled up a towel and put it under her breast to hold her up in the air a bit?

 

[mjelse]

Yes, make sure it helps her feel very secure and keeps her feep up but leaves lots of room under the abdomen.

I am going to go search for the site on draining the fluid and get back to you. It is something I could do if I had the nerve. I don't have much courage in that department. But it can't be that hard. The abdominal wall is not very thick you would have to have a vey sharp needel and good control of your pressure, plus know where there is likely to be soemthing under there you would not want to hit. Probably most of what is under there is yellow fluid.

 

[mjelse]

I found the site, all it says is they drain the fluids to keep the animals more comfortable.

But I have had hens who had a lot of fluid in the abdomen who recovered. One is sleeoing in the coop at this very minute. Here is the link, but don't let it make you discouraged.

http://www.farmanimalshelters.org/care_buckeye.htm

 

[meriruka]

She's still with me this morning. No improvement in her abdomen.
This is so frustrating. Makes me wish I had gone to vet school.

 

[ruth]

I have a hen who suffers from Ascites (fluid build up) and I use a needle/syringe to drain her every two to three months. If not, she will fill so badly that she cannot walk and would die. But after draining, she is good to go for another two to three months and is normal in every other way and continues to lay large brown eggs. Just insert needle in water balloon "belly" and withdraw fluid, I go in near the bottom, under the vent. If clear or slightly colored water comes out, it's Ascites and you can continue inserting needle and draining. Some of the holes will continue to leak and drain on their own. If you use a needle with a large syringe you won't have to reinsert so many times. My hen shows no discomfort whatsoever when I do this. Just feel the water balloon and you can feel it's nothing but skin and fluid-filled bag - insert anywhere in bag.

If you can't get any fluid out, it could be that she's an internal layer and it's yolk material that is building up and cooking inside her - unfortunately, if that's the case, there's not much you can do.

Many others have also drained their hen and had good results. It only fixes the problem and is not a cure so it will have to be repeated. She will be so much more comfortable and back to normal once relieved of the weight and pressure of all that fluid.

 

[meriruka]

ruth,

How do you hold her and do this? How far under the vent? 1 inch? 2?

Is it possible to damage some vital organ?

I know this will be far more traumatic for me than her.....

 

[ruth]

The hen I drain will often just stand and eat while I sort of half-way hold her with one hand and do the draining with the other. But you can always lay her on her side, cover her head with a towel and drain her. I've operated on their feet and sewn up their backs while they are on their side with their head covered and they never move.

Think of the bag as a big water balloon. I go in at the bottom of the bag towards the back. Feel around in the area before inserting needle. You should just feel skin filled with fluid. Should not be any vital organs hanging down in fluid-filled bag area. All vital organs should be in body cavity. My hen really shows little to no response to being stuck and is tame enough and calm enough that I easily do it by myself. Like I said, if she has some food in front of her, she will stand and eat while I work on her. The needles are small and very sharp and shouldn't cause pain or discomfort.

 

[meriruka]

Thanks ruth! Now I just have to figure out where to buy a needle.