Headdress
The comb of the crested hen (Crista carnosa) is a fleshy flap of skin that sits on the head and is particularly pronounced in cocks. The hens’ crest is usually smaller, but while the cocks’ crest does not change its size once it has been reached, the hens’ crest is larger during the laying period than during breaks in laying or moulting.
This headdress consists of several layers of skin, fatty tissue and is very well supplied with blood. In winter, breeds with very large combs can suffer from frostbite. Especially if your chickens live in a heated coop, it can happen due to the temperature difference. However, this usually only happens at temperatures below -15°C.
Comb variations
Cup comb e.g. Augsburger,
A comb that begins simply at the beak and divides into a cup-shaped comb after the first or second comb tooth.
Leaf comb e.g.
Two comb leaves lying next to each other with moderately large serrations.
Tufted comb e.g.
Several lateral outgrowths on the comb lug of the single comb or on the spike of the rose comb.
Single comb e.g. Jersey Giant, Amrock, Barnevelder
Standing comb – different in size and shape.
Pea comb e.g. Brahma, Araucana,
Low comb consisting of three beaded rows, the middle one being the highest.
Horn comb e.g. Annaberger Haubenstrupphuhn, La Fléche, Sultanhuhn
Comb consisting of two round, erect horns, arranged in a straight or V-shape.
Hinged comb e.g.
Single comb surrounding to the side.
Mulberry comb e.g. silk grouse
Transverse rose comb with wart-like growths without spine and beading; blue-red to blackish-blue.
Cup comb e.g. Breda
Trough filled with comb meat for combless chickens
Rose comb e.g. Wyandotte, Appenzeller Barthuhn, Assendelfter
A comb made from a mass of meat that sits firmly on the head and has a broad, squashed appearance. The upper side is evenly covered with pearls. It ends at the back in a spike of different shape depending on the breed. A major fault is the spike, which tapers strongly at the end of the comb and ends noticeably separated with a small pearl.
Saw comb e.g.
Standing comb with teeth evenly inclined backwards.
Flaccid comb e.g.
comb with a comb blade that is too thin and already falls to one side at the base.
Schlotterkamm e.g. bergischer Schlotterkamm
The hen’s comb of the large-combed hens falling over to the side; always a defect in cocks.
Butterfly comb e.g. Houdan
Has the shape of two serrated leaves lying next to each other
V-shaped comb e.g.
Horn comb, where the two horns are in a V-shape.
Wrapped comb e.g. Altsteirer hens, Sulmtaler hens
1. Incorrect comb position if the comb is too soft, where the comb is first folded over to one side and then to the other
2. in Altsteirer and Sulmtaler hens Breed characteristic
Beaded crest e.g. Malay, Orloff, Kraienkopp
Flesh knot on the front skull without rear spout. Does not extend beyond the eye at the rear.