black marks on wattles??

[DJ]

i took 10 pigeons training and 8 returned as i got home but the other 2 took 4 days to get back to the loft and both were in a sorry state (ive been here before  :-/) anyway ive noticed that the 2 latecomers have what can best be described  as a black mark on the front of their wattles just where the wattle joins the beak ??   being a a novice who has yet to race can anybody give me a clue as to what caused the black marks on their wattles or am i dealing with a disease that caused the 2 pigeons to be late home??

                                                      debbie  

[Guest shadow]

could just be soil marks from fielding if in good health the wattles should soon clean up again

[square_peg]

have you had heavy rain showers in your area ? if so dont worry about it 8)

[thunderboult]

my guess is a hawk may have frightened them and as they've been away for 4 days they must have had a drink somewhere if there was a layer of scum or oil on top of some water somewhere it would leave a mark as they dunk their heads in it    

[thunderboult]

give em some rest and good food and water seperated from the rest just in case and if they pirk up in a couple of days put em back with rest