Water belly

[Suesweet]

Has anyone ever drained water belly with something larger than an 18 gauge needle? I tried an 18g-the fluid is yellow but with sediment/floaters and is too thick and will not drain, only got a few drops. I’m wondering if I can sterilize a new pointed xacto blade and make a hole. I have lidocaine cream or oragel swabs i could numb with. Just thinking.
If someone has tried this successfully I would do it but I’m wondering if she should just be put down. She is one of our favorite hens and is only 2 to 3 years old. She is still eating and walking around I just don’t want her to suffer.

 

[Eggcessive]

18 gauge is about as large as you can get. The large 16 gauge may be found online, but in the past, I only saw blunt ended ones. Since it it not coming through the needle, you may have a hen with infection coelomitis/egg yolk peritonitis. If you try draining with something else, be sure to disinfect the site.

 

[catballou]

Has anyone ever drained water belly with something larger than an 18 gauge needle? I tried an 18g-the fluid is yellow but with sediment/floaters and is too thick and will not drain, only got a few drops. I’m wondering if I can sterilize a new pointed xacto blade and make a hole. I have lidocaine cream or oragel swabs i could numb with. Just thinking.
If someone has tried this successfully I would do it but I’m wondering if she should just be put down. She is one of our favorite hens and is only 2 to 3 years old. She is still eating and walking around I just don’t want her to suffer.

I've read to not use lidocaine on chickens, because the "caine" part is toxic to them.

 

[catballou]

18 gauge is about as large as you can get. The large 16 gauge may be found online, but in the past, I only saw blunt ended ones. Since it it not coming through the needle, you may have a hen with infection coelomitis/egg yolk peritonitis. If you try draining with something else, be sure to disinfect the site.

Don't ever put lidocaine or anything else ending with "cain". It's toxic to chickens.
I'm in the same prediction.