If you keep chickens in your backyard, you should be able to tell the difference between the different parts of your chickens. For many people, the red bumps on a chicken’s head are one of the things that make it stand out. What are these bumps on a chicken’s head called?
In this article, we’ll explore the names and purposes of the red parts on a chicken’s head, including the comb, wattles, and earlobes. Whether you’re new to raising chickens or a seasoned pro, read on to learn more about chicken head anatomy
The Comb
The comb is the red, fleshy thing on top of a chicken’s head. It’s usually just called the “comb,” but it can also be called the cockscomb crown or crest.
The comb serves several important functions:
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Helps regulate body temperature – the comb is filled with blood vessels that can expand and contract to release heat. This helps a chicken keep cool.
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Indicates health – a bright red comb is a sign of good health. A pale, blotchy, or discolored comb can indicate sickness.
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Comb size, shape, and color vary by chicken breed, making it easy to tell them apart. Some common types of combs are single, rose, pea, cushion, strawberry, and more.
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Attracting mates – combs are larger and brighter on roosters. This signals dominance and virility to potential mates.
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Pecking order – chickens use comb size to establish a social hierarchy, with larger combs indicating a more dominant bird.
The Wattles
Wattles refer to the two flaps of flesh that dangle below a chicken’s beak. Sometimes called dewlaps, wattles come in various shapes, sizes, and colors depending on the breed.
Like the comb, chicken wattles serve multiple functions:
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Cooling – wattles contain blood vessels that can expand to release heat. This helps regulate body temperature.
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Health indicator – wattles are usually bright red, turning pale if the bird is sick or stressed.
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Breed identification – size and shape of wattles varies by breed. Common types are single, double, and triple.
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Attracting mates – wattles are larger on males and signal reproductive fitness.
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Social status – more dominant roosters tend to have larger wattles.
The Earlobes
In addition to combs and wattles, chickens also have earlobes. These small flaps of skin are located just below the external opening of the ear canal, on both sides of the head.
Chicken earlobes come in a variety of colors like red, white, blue, or brown. The color is genetically determined and can be used to identify egg shell color.
Earlobes play a smaller role than combs and wattles, but still assist with:
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Cooling – earlobes contain some blood vessels that can release body heat
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Breed identification – earlobe color varies by breed and helps indicate egg color
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Health – earlobes may fade in color if a chicken is sick or stressed
While less significant than combs and wattles, earlobes still provide some useful information about a chicken. The small, hanging flaps of skin by the ears are properly called the earlobes.
Why Are Chicken Combs and Wattles Red?
You may be wondering why combs, wattles, and earlobes come in red or pinkish hues. The reason has to do with blood vessels.
These fleshy protuberances are loaded with capillaries and arterioles just below the skin surface. Higher blood flow turns them bright red and allows more heat to radiate off.
This physiological response is triggered by heat. More blood pumps into the comb and wattles in response to rising temperatures, releasing body heat.
As temperatures cool, the comb and wattles turn paler as blood flow decreases. This system allows efficient thermoregulation.
Recap: Names of Red Chicken Head Parts
Let’s do a quick recap of the key terms covered:
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Comb or cockscomb – the red appendage on top of the head
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Wattles – the two flaps of red or pink skin under the beak
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Earlobes – the small red or pink flaps below the ears
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All are filled with blood vessels that can help regulate body temperature
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Color, size and shape varies by chicken breed
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Also used for signaling health status and establishing pecking order
Make sure to keep an eye on your flock’s combs, wattles, and earlobes as indicators of their wellbeing. And don’t hesitate to ask a fellow chicken keeper or vet if you notice any discoloration or unusual changes.
Happy chicken keeping! Let us know if you have any other questions.
The beak and nostrils of chickensChickens have beaks for mouths. Most breeds have yellow beaks, but a few have dark blue or gray beaks. The lower half of a chickenâs beak fits inside the upper half of the beak. When the bird is breathing normally, you should not see a gap where daylight shows between the beak halves. Also, neither beak half should be twisted to one side.
A birdâs beak is made of thin, hornlike material and functions to pick up food. Beaks are present on baby chicks, and a thickened area on the end of the beak, called the egg tooth, helps them chip their way out of the eggshell. Chickens also use their beaks to groom themselves, running their feathers through their beaks to smooth them. Chickens donât have teeth, but inside the beak is a triangular-shaped tongue. The tongue has tiny barbs on it that catch and move food to the back of the mouth. Chickens have few taste buds, and their sense of taste is limited.
At the top of the beak are the chickenâs two nostrils, or nose openings. The nostrils are surrounded by a raised tan patch called the cere. In some birds, the nostrils may be partially hidden by the bottom of the comb. Birds with topknots have much larger nostril caverns. The nostrils should be clean and open. A chickenâs sense of smell is probably as good as a humanâs, according to the latest research.
The eyes and ears of a chickenMoving on down the head, you come to the chickenâs eyes. Chickens have small eyes â yellow with black, gray, or reddish-brown pupils â set on either side of the head. Chickens, like many birds, can see colors. A chicken has eyelids and sleeps with its eyes closed.
Chicken ears are small openings on the side of the head. A tuft of feathers may cover the opening. The ears are surrounded by a bare patch of skin thatâs usually red or white. A fleshy red lobe hangs down at the bottom of the patch. In some breeds, the skin patch and lobe may be blue or black. The size and shape of the lobes vary by breed and sex.
If a chicken has red ear skin, it generally lays brown eggs. If the skin patch around the ear is white, it usually lays white eggs. Skin on other parts of a chicken may be blue or black sometimes, but skin around the ear will always be red or white. For those who care, this color can help you figure out if a mixed-breed hen will lay brown or white eggs.
Three breeds lay blue or greenish eggs: the Araucana, the Ameraucana, and the Easter Eggers. Those breeds have red ear-skin patches.
What Exactly Is An Egg Yolk?
FAQ
What is the red part on a chicken called?
The red fleshy part on top of a chicken’s head is called a comb. The red, fleshy flaps of skin hanging under a chicken’s beak are called wattles.
What is the red thing hanging from a chicken’s neck?
The red, fleshy flaps hanging from a chicken’s neck, just below the beak, are called wattles. They are part of the chicken’s anatomy and are often more prominent in roosters.
What is the red in chicken?
It’s myoglobin from the bones. As our chickens grow so fast, their bones are still quite porous and can “leak”, it’s not harmful. The problem is also exacerbated by freezing as the ice crystals break the bone up even more.
What is the red chicken called?
The “red chicken” you’re likely thinking of is the Rhode Island Red.
What is the Red Thing on a chicken?
What’s the red thing on a chicken? The red thing on a chicken is called a comb. It is a fleshy protuberance located on the top of the chicken’s head. The comb is an important part of the chicken’s anatomy because it helps regulate the bird’s body temperature.
What is the Red Thing on a chicken’s head called?
These breeds are known for their unique appearance and are prized for their ornamental qualities rather than their comb size or shape. In conclusion, the red thing on a chicken’s head is called a comb, and it serves several important functions for the chicken.
What is the red thing hanging off a chicken’s Chin called?
The red thing hanging off a chicken’s chin is called a wattle. Wattles have the same functions as combs. They help regulate a chicken’s temperature by increasing the flow of blood when they’re too hot and are also a way you tell if they are having health issues. What Is the Red Thing Dangling Near a Chicken’s Ear?.
What does a red comb on a chicken mean?
A nice bright red comb is also a sign that the chicken is healthy. If their comb is turning black or purple, it’s a sign of illness. This video does a good job of explaining how a chick’s wattle help cool them down and how chickens regulate their body temperature: What Is the Red Thing on a Chicken’s Chin?.
What are the parts of a chicken’s head?
The most significant parts of a chicken’s head are the comb, the eyes and ears, the beak and nostrils, and the wattles and the neck. Following is a closer look at each of these parts, from the head down. At the very top of the chicken’s head is a fleshy red area called the comb. The combs of Silkie chickens, a small breed, are very dark maroon red.
What does a chicken’s head look like?
A chicken’s head has several parts, as shown in Figure 7. One of the most prominent features on a chicken’s head is the comb. Figure 8 shows different types of combs. A chicken’s comb and wattles are red, soft, and warm. Chickens do not have external ears as humans do.