Different Chicken Combs And Why It Matters To Your Climate

When it comes to chicken combs – that odd little red part that sits on top of a chicken’s head – they might all look the same, but there are actually nine different types recognized here in the United States.

While you might think they are only for appearance, the comb actually has a very important job in helping regulate a chicken’s temperature. In addition, the appearance of their comb might tell you clues about a chicken’s health, their standing in the flock, and whether or not the hens are laying eggs.

A chicken’s comb type is usually breed-specific. This can come into play when you go to choose the right type of breed for your particular location and climate. That is because some breeds are much better at handling colder temperatures, while others do better in the heat.

So, in addition to choosing a chicken breed based on their color of eggs or their feather appearance, you may also want to consider the type of comb the birds have before adding them to your flock.

What Does A Chicken’s Comb Actually Do?

Aside from decorating its head, a chicken’s comb also helps to regulate the bird’s temperature. Chickens can’t sweat. To help a hen or rooster cool off during the hot summer weather, the comb pitches in. The comb is packed full of blood vessels. When chickens get hot, blood rushes to the comb, and that helps expel excess heat.

The comb is also a good indicator of the health of the bird. During normal laying seasons, when a hen is in good health, the comb should be bright red and plump. As for a rooster, it should always be bright red all year long. If a chicken falls ill, the comb turns pale in color and can shrink. This can indicate an illness, pest issues, or stress.

A chicken’s comb can also let you know if the hen is in egg production. When a hen is not laying eggs, the comb tends to shrink up and turns from bright red to a pale pink color, similar to how it would if the hen were ill. This can happen when a hen is molting or when it’s wintertime, and the hens have stopped egg production.

Lastly, a bird’s comb is also used to establish dominance in a flock. Typically, the larger and redder a comb is, the more dominant the hen is in the flock and the higher in the pecking order. The same goes for the rooster if you have more than one living together.

What Are The Nine Chicken Comb Types?

• Buttercup – This is one of the rarer combs since only one breed has it, the Sicilian Buttercup. The comb appears to have a tall “cup” shape that sits off the heat and has spikes on all sides.
• Carnation – This comb type is similar to a Single comb, but it has a few points that go out horizontally at the back of the comb. There are only two breeds that have this comb type, the Empordanesa and the Penedesenca.
• Cushion – This comb type is small, rounded, and looks like a tiny cotton ball on top of the hen’s head. It is most known for the Chantecler chicken breed.
• Pea – This comb has low ridges that run lengthwise along the top of the head. It is compact and sits close to the head. Blue-egg layers commonly have Pea combs. Common breeds with Pea combs are Ameraucana, Brahma, Buckeyes, and Easter Eggers.
• Rose – Rose combs sit close to the hen’s head and are flat and broad. The comb ends with a rounded or pointed spike at the back that is raised off the head. Common breeds with Rose combs are Dominiques, Hamburgs, Wyandottes, and various bantham breeds.

More Breeds – Different Chicken Combs

• Single – This is probably the comb that is most commonly associated with chickens. It features a single upright ridge that has distinct points along the edge. A hen’s comb can even flop to one side. Some breeds with Single combs are Favorelle, Leghorns, Plymouths, Rhode Island Reds, and Sussex.
• Strawberry – This comb sits right atop the nostrils and kind of resembles a rounded, textured strawberry. It is more common with gamefowl and less common in backyard flocks. Malay and Yokohama are two breeds that have Strawberry combs.
• V-Comb – This is often nicknamed the “Devil’s Horn”. It is shaped in a distinct “V” that gives the appearance of horns. It is most common in French breeds, and includes Houdans, La Flèche, Polish, and Sultans. With Polish hens, the comb is partially hidden in the birds’ crest.
• Walnut – Just like the name says, this comb resembles a walnut shell in that it is large, bumpy, and rounded. The most common breed with a Walnut comb is a Silkie.

Different Chicken Combs And Weather-Hardy Birds

In general, you want to choose different chicken breeds based on whether they are suitable for your particular climate, not just for their eggs, coloring, or combs. For example, I live in Illinois, so I need both cold-hardy breeds as well as those that can survive the hot weather of summer as well.

Comb Type	Ideal Climate	Frostbite Risk
Buttercup	Hot Climate	Moderate-High
Carnation	Hot Climate	High
Cushion	Cold Climate	Extremely Low
Pea	Cold Climate	Very Low
Rose	Cold Climate	Low
Single	Hot Climate	High
Strawberry	Either Climate	Moderate
V-Comb	Either Climate	Moderate
Walnut	Cold Climate	Low

Since the combs help regulate the birds’ temperature, larger combed birds do better in higher temperature climates. On the other hand, breeds with smaller combs that stay close to the bird’s head are more suitable for winter weather. Large combs have a much higher chance of getting frostbite, especially on combs that are raised off the head of the bird.

That’s not to say that you can’t raise larger comb breeds if you experience freezing temperatures in wintertime or that you can’t raise smaller comb breeds in warmer weather. It’s just something to keep in mind when picking out the chicks. It might also come into play when designing your chicken coop and yard.

In general, chickens can handle colder temperatures better than warmer temperatures. If you want more information about raising chickens and different climates, check out these articles: “Cold Hardy Chickens – The Best Winter Breeds & Other Cool Tips” and “Keeping Chickens Cool – Caring For Chickens During The Summer”.

A Note Regarding A Chick’s Comb And Gender

When a chicken is a baby, you normally cannot see their different combs. If you do, they are very small and pale in color. That is totally normal. As the chicks grow, the comb can be an indication of the birds’ breed, age, and possibly even gender.

The main difference is between male chicks (cockerels) and female chicks (pullets). Pullet combs tend to stay smaller and paler as they age. The comb doesn’t turn red until the hen is of laying age, which is usually around 6 months of age.

The added testosterone that cockerels have, however, usually allows the combs as well as the waddle (the part that hangs down from the bird’s head) to develop earlier than pullets. In fact, the comb can start to grow larger and turn reddish as early as four weeks.

Just keep in mind, though, there have been many chicken owners who have thought a pullet was a cockerel and vice versa. While the comb can be an indicator of gender, it definitely isn’t 100% foolproof!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

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