Combs
Chickens all have a comb. It is the fleshy protuberance on top of the head of a fowl. The protuberance is larger on the male than female. There are various forms of combs in different breeds. The combs are usually red in color, however, they are purple in Sumatras, Birchen and Brown Red Modern Games and Silkies and purplish-red in Sebrights.
Take a few minutes to learn to identify the various combs that are found on the various breeds and varieties of chickens.
The
Buttercup consists of a single leader from base of
beak to a cup-shaped crown set firmly on the center of the skull and completely
surmounted by a circle of regular points. The cavity within the circle of
points should be deep, the texture of the comb should be fine.
The
Cushion is a solid low, moderately small comb; smooth
on top, the front, rear and sides are nearly straight with rounded corners.
It has no spikes.
The
Pea is a medium length, low comb, the top of which is marked
with three low lengthwise ridges, the center one is slightly higher that
the outer ones. The outer ones are either undulated or marked with small
rounded serrations. This is a breed characteristic that is found in Brahmas,
Buckeyes, Cornish, Cubalayas and Sumatras.
The
Rose is a solid, broad, nearly flat on top, low, fleshly
comb that terminates in a well-developed tapering spike. It may turn upward
as in Hamburgs, be nearly horizontal as in Rose Comb Leghorns, or follow
the contour of the head as in Wyandottes. The top surface of the main part
should be slightly convex and studded with small rounded protuberances.
The general shape varies in the different breeds.
The
Silkis is an almost round, somewhat lumpy comb, inclined to be
greater in width than length; covered with small corrugations on top and
crossed with a narrow transverse indentation slightly to the front of the
comb. Sometimes two or three small rear points are hidden by a crest, others
are without points. Generally they are considered to be genetically a rose
comb changed by a rose comb plus crest.The
Single
comb is a moderately thin, fleshy formation of smooth soft surface texture,
firmly attached from the beak along the top of the skull with a strong base.
The top portion shows five or six rather deep serrations or distinct points,
the middle points being higher than the anterior or posterior, forming a
semi-oval when viewed from the side. The comb is always erect and much larger
and thicker in males than in females; may be lopped or erect in the female.
This depends on the breed. The comb is divided into three sections: the
front or anterior, the middle and that extending past the rear base of the
skull, the posterior or blade.
The
Strawberry is a low comb that is set well-forward. The
shape and surface resemble the outer part of half a strawberry with a large
end nearest the beak of the chicken.
The
V-Shaped comb is formed of two well defined horn like sections
that are joined at their base, as in Houdans, Polish, Crevecoeurs, LeFleche
and Sultans.