Cannot drain ascites (water belly)

[762]

I have a hen that has water belly, no question. I bought an 18 gauge, 3/4” syringe and attempted to drain the fluid as in the video below. It would NOT drain and all we encountered was resistance when trying to draw the syringe. After examination of the little we did extract, it appeared to be fatty tissue. We attempted to draw from another spot and got more of the same, this time no question that it was fatty tissue.

I didn’t want to continue to poke her and get the same result so I tagged her and returned her to the coop.

Should I try a longer needle tomorrow? The lady in the video said to use a short needle.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Eggcessive

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a hen that has water belly, no question. I bought an 18 gauge, 3/4” syringe and attempted to drain the fluid as in the video below. It would NOT drain and all we encountered was resistance when trying to draw the syringe. After examination of the little we did extract, it appeared to be fatty tissue. We attempted to draw from another spot and got more of the same, this time no question that it was fatty tissue.

I didn’t want to continue to poke her and get the same result so I tagged her and returned her to the coop.

Should I try a longer needle tomorrow? The lady in the video said to use a short needle.

If you're not drawing fluid but fatty material, she doesn't have fluid in the abdomen.

She may have excess fat in the abdomen due to Fatty Liver Disease or just be fat. Possible she has another condition like Salpingitis, EYP, Internal Laying, Cancer, etc., that can cause distention of the abdomen.

What other symptoms does she exhibit? Is she acting sick, lethargic, having difficulty breathing or walking?

 

[762]

If you're not drawing fluid but fatty material, she doesn't have fluid in the abdomen.

She may have excess fat in the abdomen due to Fatty Liver Disease or just be fat. Possible she has another condition like Salpingitis, EYP, Internal Laying, Cancer, etc., that can cause distention of the abdomen.

What other symptoms does she exhibit? Is she acting sick, lethargic, having difficulty breathing or walking?

She was in the nesting box overnight and the entire day. I thought she was broody but noticed how swollen her belly was. I stuck my finger in her vent to see if she was eggbound. No egg. Not particularly lethargic other than being in the nesting box. When I had her in the garage yesterday late afternoon, she stood the whole time. Didn’t eat or drink while she was in there to my knowledge. Tried to avoid being picked up as much as possible.

Her abdomen feels like a water bottle.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She was in the nesting box overnight and the entire day. I thought she was broody but noticed how swollen her belly was. I stuck my finger in her vent to see if she was eggbound. No egg. Not particularly lethargic other than being in the nesting box. When I had her in the garage yesterday late afternoon, she stood the whole time. Didn’t eat or drink while she was in there to my knowledge. Tried to avoid being picked up as much as possible.

Her abdomen feels like a water bottle.

If she's able to eat/drink on her own and is not being picked at, then I'd leave her with her flock.

She may be having a hard time expelling some Lash Material (Salpingitis) or egg, I'd give her 1 Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for a week.

See that she's staying hydrated and eating. Check her over for lice/mites as well since she's feeling poorly.

 

[762]

If she's able to eat/drink on her own and is not being picked at, then I'd leave her with her flock.

She may be having a hard time expelling some Lash Material (Salpingitis) or egg, I'd give her 1 Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for a week.

See that she's staying hydrated and eating. Check her over for lice/mites as well since she's feeling poorly.

Do you think it’s possible that her adipose tissue was so thick that the 3/4” needle isn’t a sufficient length to pass through it? I recently butchered a hen that we had to put down due to impacted crop, and she had a LOT of fatty tissue.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock that this probably is not water belly, but she is enlarged from another reason. You would only have to insert the needle 1/4-1/2 inch into the abdominal wall to get fluid if it was there.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you think it’s possible that her adipose tissue was so thick that the 3/4” needle isn’t a sufficient length to pass through it? I recently butchered a hen that we had to put down due to impacted crop, and she had a LOT of fatty tissue.

No, I wouldn't stick the needle deeper.

You had another hen that had a lot of fatty tissue.

It may be time to evaluate what or how you feed. Excess fat can lead to Fatty Liver Disease, make it harder for hens to lay eggs, the fat can also surround organs and cause an overall decline in health.

 

[762]

No, I wouldn't stick the needle deeper.

You had another hen that had a lot of fatty tissue.

It may be time to evaluate what or how you feed. Excess fat can lead to Fatty Liver Disease, make it harder for hens to lay eggs, the fat can also surround organs and cause an overall decline in health.

They mostly forage throughout the day. I give them fermented layer grain in the morning and there are hanging feeders under the coop with Nature’s Best layer crumbles. They have free access to the crumbles but they don’t hang there.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They mostly forage throughout the day. I give them fermented layer grain in the morning and there are hanging feeders under the coop with Nature’s Best layer crumbles. They have free access to the crumbles but they don’t hang there.

That sound pretty good.

Sometimes being fatty or having fatty liver can be genetic as well. If you're not heavy handed with scratch, seeds, etc. and just providing a nutritionally balanced feed along with what they forage, I'm not sure what else you can do.