i think its more like younger birds are novices at feeding than been anything wrong when thay get to two years old you hardly ever see mucky wattles A mate of mine last year had a youngen raceing in the LEEDS mid week the only bird he raced every week feeding a youngen bye its self and its wattles looked like an old streeter but still went on winning cards every week this bird made him the second highest prize money winner from just one bird and for most of that time it had dirty wattles so what can we draw from this I wouldent worry to much if the young are ok yours in sport