The chicken keepers symptom checker: The first thing a backyard keeper often notices is that one of their birds is either stood out on it's own away from the others, hunched over or fluffed up. 1 of 2 Go to page. He says an unruly comb could also have something to do with breed characteristics and genetic makeup of the chicken. SHE SEEMS ALRIGHT IN EVERY OTHER WAY. Thank you for Reading. This will cause problems for the chicken in regulating body heat, especially during the summer. THE OTHER 11 HENS SEEM TO BE FINE. The "comb" most often refers to chickens in which the most common shape is the "single comb" of a rooster from breeds such as the Leghorn.Other common comb types are the "rose comb" (e.g. The comb is a chicken`s body part that can indicate illnesses, gender, and breed of the chicken. A comb is a fleshy growth on top of a chicken's head. The purple comb could be a sign of severe physical distress of some sort. Cushion Combs (updated 2019) I have some chickens who have lost their combs and wattles ,and have droopy eyes and are really lethargic with poor appitite and are dying slowly. There is no real reasoning behind why silkies have five toes or what this means for them, just another quirk that makes them truly individual in the chicken breed world! So, a droopy comb isn't anything to be concerned about. Each chicken is different, and each breed different, so gauging changes in comb condition and color is the best way to determine what's normal and what's not. Despite their large wings, chickens cannot fly in the same way as other birds. why do chickens have combs and waddles? Today, let’s talk a bit about chicken wattles and combs and shed some light on the mystery! In chickens, bigger is better when it comes to the size of the male and females combs. Any one of these three symptoms is an excellent marker that something is amiss. This one has no sign of any bumps or bulges or anything. Combs are a normal thing for chickens to have. They both actually have a very important function. Thread starter #1 countrychicken00 Songster. In the summertime or in warm climates, the comb will help reduce the temperature of the bird by diffusing some of the heat back into the air. I'd also suggest that you support her with vitamins & minerals. This settled flat … Chickens are not able to sweat so they will control their body temperature with the help of their wattles and comb. 9 Years. Go. I mean like what are they for? A chickens comb and wattle is like any other appendage and does not have the capacity to re-grow after loss. There was a big difference in their appearance from 5 to 6 months. Scientists suggest that blood is circulated between the comb and wattles to help keep the chicken cool in hot weather. Jul 21, 2010 133 2 101 Oregon. Like cats, chickens pick and preen at themselves and there is no way to stop them. Collectively, these and other fleshy protuberances on the head and throat are called caruncles. They really start to look more mature by 6 months. One of my chickens had a pale comb and I was getting worried. It is just a pretty (or not, depending on how you view it) addition to their heads, or do they serve some other purpose? A cockerel’s comb will gradually become larger and more vivid than a pullet’s. WE HAVE A RED PRODUCER HEN THAT IS LOOKING AWFUL. His just turned red. Why Do Chickens Have Wings if they Don’t Fly? Some combs are just larger than others. It could be dried blood from aggressive chicken behavior or from the chickens scratching at something irritating their combs. The comb helps keep the chicken cool, which is why the Mediterranean breeds such as Andalusians, Penedesencas, Ancona and White Faced Black Spanish have such large combs. MORE BLACK SPOTS ON COMBS by: sharon We had a similar photo, same question recently. Adult chickens have a fleshy crest on their heads called a comb, or cockscomb, and hanging flaps of skin either side under their beaks called wattles. So why do roosters have such ornate combs? Why Do Chickens Molt and What IS a Molt, Anyway? Popular Rhode Island Red chicken breed has red colored wattles. Aug 8, 2010. Next Last ••• More options Who Replied? WE DO HAVE ONE (DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE) IS LAYING VERY LARGE ROUGH SHELLED EGGS, COULD IT BE THE SAME ONE BECOMING DEFICIENT? All chickens have combs, different breeds have different shapes and sizes, however no matter what breed the males typically have slightly larger combs to give sexual definition. 1. I can't see the details of the photo clearly enough to know what this might be. Combs are the red featherless skin that grows from the top of their heads. Most chickens, male or female have wattles and combs. A chicken's … At about 3 to 8 weeks of age, depending on the breed, baby chicks start developing reddened combs. After a brief discussion about today`s article, we decided that we wanted to do an article concerning the comb of the chickens. There are a few main comb types. The comb and wattles have a very important use. Both the adult male and female have wattles and combs, but in most breeds these are more prominent in males. Generally wattles in most of the laying chicken breed are of red colored. Nov 4, 2015 #10 Elainz In the Brooder. the Rosecomb) or "pea comb" (e.g. They keep the chicken cool. Move your chicken to a warm area. A single comb is probably what you think of when you think of a chicken's comb. I have 2 others with the pea comb they have combs already. I have noticed that a lot of people use or recommend Blu-Kote for chicken care, but I would not recommend it for use on chickens. In addition bright red combs and a clean bottom. One … In chickens, a healthy comb is almost always red, although color can vary in other bird species, such as turkeys, and certain breeds, such as silkies, which have bluish black combs. We’re going to go over why chickens have these combs and how to keep them healthy. A comb is the fleshy (usually) red erectile tissue on top of a chicken's head. Heat can easily transfer to the surrounding air from hens body through blood circulation from their body into the wattles and comb. Wattles are two oblong fleshy growths that hang below their chin. You might wonder why chickens have combs or if a comb serves a purpose. What are They For? While both genders of chickens have combs, the comb is usually much larger on roosters than hens, thus it's alternate name, "cockscomb". Silkie chickens- bless them, do like to do things a little differently and like humans have five toes adorning each foot. Combs are described in several ways, such as Peacombs, double combs, single comb and combless such as Silkies. But all single combs are not alike. 6 Years. It has a single row of spiky fingers sticking up from a "blade." The Dorking chicken is from Itaily which would explain why its wattles and combs are larger then most … Chickens go through molting periods once and rarely, twice, a year, and sometimes even during stressful periods. Do not use direct heat like a dryer, or rub the comb. I have sepparated affected birds from the rest of the flock, which seems to contain the problem to the infected birds. At this time no one else seems to be sick, maybe one with a comb that does not stand straight but flops a little - no purple. Below: A healthy chicken. We’ll also talk about the different types of combs, and more. A rooster with a nice tall and bright red comb will stand out and may be preferred by hens. Also, the warnings for Blu-Kote specifically state not to use it on food producing animals. The old feathers are pushed out by the new ones, starting on the head and neck area, down to the wings, and sometimes farther. Both male and female chickens have fleshy growths at the tops of their heads called combs. Males and females alike will seek out the the birds with the largest and brightest combs for mating. Yes I agree ~~my girls that are molting and have pale combs, I've put vitamins w/ electrolytes in their water to help them through this stressful time, and no they are not laying . Other Health Issues That Can Cause Black Combs We all are misled by the word “bird” as we think that these animals can fly. VERY PALE COMBS, DULL FEATHERS THAT ARE sparse. What is causing this? WHAT CAN WE DO? Variety of Breeds. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. Combs do not grow back, so don't break off the blackened tips. One purpose of a comb, therefore, is to help tell the cocks from the hens. The majority of chickens have combs, but why? Wash my hands every time I touch her or her cage The chicken comb is a very important part of the animal that serves several purposes. Below: An unwell chicken. Comb shape varies considerably depending on the breed or species of bird. Males have even been found to ejaculate more semen into the vagina of the females with the bigger and brighter combs.