Squatlobster Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hello there. I am new to chickens and to internet forums! I have had four pullets for about a month and they are absolutely wonderful - so comical! They are laying well and seem very happy, but one of them has a swollen wattle on one side only. It is not discoloured and she seems very happy generally, but there is a lump about the size of a small grape. They have an enclosed run and a limited amount of garden freedom (supervised) during the day. Any ideas please? Also, we were woken at about 6.30 this morning by one of the chickens clucking in a rather rhythmical alarmed way, as if being attacked or as if it was in pain. Upon investigation there was nothing untoward, but could there have been a predator? There are lots of big bully black crows and buzzards round here. Please tell me this is only a one-off! Many thanks for your help and lovely to read all your stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hello Squatlobster and welcome to the forum.. Great name. They often have uneven and rather large wattles. It is probably nothing to worry about. Have you checked it carefully for wounds or signs of infection.? Re the early morning alarm call...it does sound as if you might have had a nocturnal visitor. Could have been anything from a passing cat to a fox I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squatlobster Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thank you Egluntine. Yes, no obvious wounds - she is still bossy, greedy and laying. She looks and acts healthy, except for that swelling. It feels firm, but not unduly hot or rigid. I hope you are right and that it was simply an early morning predator. Otherwise I can foresee some complaints from neighbours, no matter how many eggs I give them! Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Welcome to the forum, Squatlobster . So that was the noise that woke me this morning . You'll really need to sort that chicken of yours out, you know . (Where in Edinburgh are you? Am I actually within earshot? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squatlobster Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 I am in Currie - but that dog looks noisy...lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 I'm in Buckstone near Fairmilehead so unless your chooks have extremely loud voices ...... . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueChick Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I hate to be the bearer of unwanted news but there is a chance that the noise she was making was just for the fun of it rather than a visitor. Of course, if you are lucky she may just have been warning off someone/thing but the rythmic description you gave sounds just like my ginernut ranger - Nugget. My other one doesn't do it but Nugget, occasionally luckily, does this rythmic thing that is much louder than her ususal cluck. It starts with a few buk, buk, buks then ends on a very loud longer burrrrrrk. Does this sound familiar? I have no idea what sets her off some days, there seems to be no reason behind it, no birds/aeroplanes/cats or anything. Sometimes she does it just before or after an egg lay but sometimes it is just completely random. She luckily doesn't do it all that often and so far, my neighbours haven't moaned but yesterday she was particulary bad so I am going to drop some eggs around to the neighbours just in case they are ready to moan now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 SueChick, you could be describing one of my girls . Random, unnecessary bawking which has me cringing in case the neighbours can hear it too! Luckily it doesn't last long - and if you distract her by going out into the garden or letting her out, she stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
