Why is my ducks eyes turning red?

[FernbergFarms]

Hello! I have 6 ducks and my girl ducks eyes are turning red this winter. My chicken hens eyes always turned red and never turned back. Now my girl ducks eyes are turning red this winter. But my drakes eyes are staying a nice blue and brown and not turning red.
Does anyone know why they turn red? It is really cold in Minnesota.

 

[Isaac 0]

Could you post a clear picture of the eye?

 

[FernbergFarms]

Could you post a clear picture of the eye?

Yes I will tomorrow when it’s light outside.

 

[FernbergFarms]

So this is my hen daffy and her eyes are not that red but they are turning more red. Like they were a really dark brown and now they are getting lighter: compared to my drakes dark eyes: and my chickens eyes are way more red! My chickens eyes were the worst! But this was after a full winter and my ducks eyes are lightening up so I just was wondering why this is and if I’m doing something wrong?

 

[FernbergFarms]

@Isaac 0

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I don't really see redness. What breeds are your ducks? Do you know what color eye they're supposed to have? Eye color varies per breed and sex sometimes too, and a good majority of chickens have yellow/gold/orange eyes! : D having raised puppies, kittens and pigeons for years eye color change is just kinda normal, every pigeon squab I've ever hatched had black eyes, and some turn CLEAR white, others go orange, some gray, etc. How old are your ducks/chickens when the eyes change?

 

[Isaac 0]

Your duck's eye is more of a brown color which is a common eye color for most breeds. In chickens, a yellow/orange eye color is standard. Unless you are seeing conjunctivitis in the eye, I wouldn't worry.

 

[LevisDucks]

Hello! I have 6 ducks and my girl ducks eyes are turning red this winter. My chicken hens eyes always turned red and never turned back. Now my girl ducks eyes are turning red this winter. But my drakes eyes are staying a nice blue and brown and not turning red.
Does anyone know why they turn red? It is really cold in Minnesota.

The problems from those photos don’t seem to be that bad, if things continue, I’d suggest improving/checking on any ventilation where they sleep, as lack of ventilation can sometimes cause this. You should keep an eye out to see if they continue to get more red, or if they struggle to open their eyes, then you may need to get a pet anitbacterial eye spray or take it to the vet.

 

[FernbergFarms]

Okay. Well her eye was almost black like that’s how brown they naturally are and all my chickens had really dark brown eyes and they always turn orange/red their first winter. My girl ducks eye does look normal in the picture but I can tell it looks different in person....

 

[KaleIAm]

If you are worried you can always take her to an avian veterinarian. My duck's eye was a little squinty one evening and the next day she was behaving just fine. I took her in anyway and she actually had a cut on her eye. I just couldn't see it without their special diagnostic tools like stains and such.

Maybe they'll tell you it is nothing and she's fine. Then you'll feel better and it will be worth it.