Sharp Needle 1/2 inch???

[Cryss]

I have a hen with waterbelly. I have successfully drained 265cc fluid over 2 days so as to not induce shock. I used an 18 gauge 1 inch needle. A 1 inch needle is very clumsy as you don’t need to go in deeply, only just past the skin. Preventing the length from sliding in deeper or accidentally pulling out as you try to remove the syringe is very difficult. Has anyone found a smaller length needle for this use? I’m thinking 18gauge 1/2 inch? Something relatively similar? The only ones I found were blunt tipped. I need sharp.

 

[Cryss]

She’s doing much better!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that she is doing better after having the ascites fluid removed. I had a bantam last year who suddenly developed ascites and labored breathing. She improved once the fluid was removed, and continued to leak fluid for the rest of the day, until her needle wound sealed. I only had a 20 gauge hypodermic needle, but it worked. She did die in about 3 weeks when the fluid continued to reaccumulate , after 2 more drainings. I would check out your nearest feed stores and look for a variety of sizes of needles to have at home. Some have even used sterilized sewing needles or a small blade to drain.

 

[JBILYTrain]

Newbie here since April starting with 3 babies and acquired 1 lost chicken in neighborhood Aug 28th. 1. I did not know that chickens dont get along on day 1, they pecked her head till we intervened. Waited 2 weeks after living next to each other they pecked her 10x worse till we intervened. Gave her 2 weeks to heal and now she runs from them outside of each pen but she will attack one of the chickens if too close, the others peck but I intervene. Now the newbie has what I think a water belly. We are city folks and hard to find anyone within a 50 mile radius that sees chickens. The bulge can fit in the palm of my hand that I noticed 3 days ago and gave her a warm bath which she enjoyed and was very relaxed. I might be able to get an appt Mon, but from noticing the bulge can she last till monday till she is seen? Also no egg laying, figured all that stress of being lost and pecking would be that cause. Coin slot butt hole, does that mean she is done?