Chickens are extremely fascinating animals, with their distinctive comb on their head being one of their most captivating features. Not only can it help them stay cool in hot temperatures but it can also dissipate body heat more effectively than ever. In cold temperatures however, blood circulation to their comb may be restricted in order to protect themselves from frostbite – indeed its health can often serve as an indicator for its wellbeing!
The shape of a chicken’s comb depends on their breed; most breeders only select eggs from hens with pea or rose-type combs for egg production. Genes control both its size and shape; each bird inherits half a pair from both parent’s. If a chicken inherits both pea and single-comb genes from both parents, their comb will display both characteristics simultaneously while having only one of these will result in purebred version of that particular type.
Chickens use their combs during hot, summer days to dissipate body heat as they search for insects and food. A comb is composed of similar tissue to fingernails or toenails but with more papillae that contain thousands of nerve cells sensitive to temperature and humidity; when heated up it sends messages directly to their brain to cool off. Furthermore, their comb also allows the chickens to check on themselves, showing whether they’re in lay or not (hens in lay have full and large combs while pale or shrunken combs may indicate sickness).
A chicken’s comb can also help identify roosters, since roosters develop their combs earlier than hens do. As chicks develop and gain weight, their combs become larger and more prominent; when their red hue indicates they have begun laying eggs.
Chickens with pea combs are particularly well suited to cold climates, as their smaller combs help minimize body heat loss during harsh winters. Leghorns do not offer this advantage in cold temperatures.
Pea combs extend back from a chicken’s beak in an arch-shaped fashion and contain three rows of spikes with the middle row being taller than its side counterparts; Ameraucanas, Araucanas, Brahmas and Sumatras typically sport this feature; cushion combs feature no points or ridges while carnation combs sport additional points at the base of their beaks; Empordanesa and Penedesenca chickens often possess this style whereas V-combs sport extra points shaped in an arch formation that form V shapes – something all four breeds possess.