Can I use a 20 gauge body piercing needle to withdraw water

[gwright6]

I have a 20 gauge body piercing needle. Can I use it to extract the water in a water belly chicken?

 

[Eggcessive]

A 20 gauge needle might work, but it may be too small. You can get 18 gauge hypodermic needles and 35 ml syringes from most feed stores. The skin on the lower belly must be disinfected with betadine, alcohol, or chlorhexidene. I don’t usually drain hens with suspected water belly since there can be a risk of infection or shock and death. I only do it to relieve labored breathing. Water belly fluid is always yellow or darker from bile. If you get clear colorless fluid, it is another condition called cystic right oviduct.

 

[gwright6]

A 20 gauge needle might work, but it may be too small. You can get 18 gauge hypodermic needles and 35 ml syringes from most feed stores. The skin on the lower belly must be disinfected with betadine, alcohol, or chlorhexidene. I don’t usually drain hens with suspected water belly since there can be a risk of infection or shock and death. I only do it to relieve labored breathing. Water belly fluid is always yellow or darker from bile. If you get clear colorless fluid, it is another condition called cystic right oviduct.

 

[gwright6]

Thank you I am not looking forward to this but I feel so bad for her. I watched videos and it seemed like the humane thing to do... but now I'm wondering if I should just let nature takes it course. This is my second hen and I've checked all the boxes on clean coop, organic food, clean water ...... so i'm thinking it's the DNA

 

[Eggcessive]

High production hens can have shorter lives . A lot depends on how they are raised. I usually get baby chicks from a hatchery, and I get some heritage chickens of various breeds. The high production and sex linked hens are so popular because of their egg laying, but they may burn out earlier. Did you get her from a breeder or where?

 

[gwright6]

High production hens can have shorter lives . A lot depends on how they are raised. I usually get baby chicks from a hatchery, and I get some heritage chickens of various breeds. The high production and sex linked hens are so popular because of their egg laying, but they may burn out earlier. Did you get her from a breeder or where?

Yes I got her from Hoover Hatchery.Yes, she is a Red Sex linked. What heritage chickens do you recommend?