A comb is a fleshy growth or crest on the top of the head of some

gallinaceous Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...

birds, such as domestic chickens. The alternative name cockscomb (with several spelling variations) reflects the fact that combs are generally larger on cock birds than on hens. The comb is one of several fleshy protuberances on the heads of chickens, the others being the wattles and earlobes, which collectively are called caruncles. In turkeys, the caruncles are the fleshy nodules on the head and throat. Chicken combs are most commonly red, but may also be black or dark purple in breeds such as the Silkie or the

Sebright The Sebright (IPA: ) is a British breed of bantam chicken. It is a true bantam – a miniature bird with no corresponding large version – and is one of the oldest recorded British bantam breeds. It is named after Sir John Saunders Sebrigh ...

. In other species the color may vary from light grey to deep blue or red. The comb may be a reliable indicator of health or vigor and is used for mate-assessment in some poultry species.

Types of chicken comb

Comb shape varies considerably depending on the breed or species of bird. Of the many types and shapes seen in chicken cocks the principal ones are: * the single comb, extending in a single line from the top of the base of the beak to the back of the head. It consists of a solid vertical part with a series of points or serrations; the size, shape and number of these and the overall shape of the comb are all variable, depending on the breed. * The cup comb, as seen in the Sicilian Buttercup, a cup-shaped comb with spiked edges. * the cushion comb, as seen in the Chantecler and Silkie, is a compact cushion-shaped mass covered with small protuberances, with a shallow transverse groove across it. * the horn comb or V-comb, as seen in breeds such as the Crèvecœur, La Flèche and

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...

, with two spikes in a V shape starting above the beak, tapering to a point from a thick base. * the leaf comb or shell comb, as seen in the

Houdan Houdan () is a commune of the Yvelines department west of Paris in the north of France. History The name has evolved from the Saxon "Hoding," meaning "settlement on the hill". Houdan is thought to have been inhabited since the 5th century. B ...

, which resembles a butterfly with partially-opened wings. * the pea comb or triple comb, somewhat like three small single combs in a row; seen in breeds including the

Araucana The Araucana ( es, Gallina Mapuche, italic=no) is a breed of domestic chicken from Chile. Its name derives from the Araucanía region of Chile where it is believed to have originated. It lays blue-shelled eggs, one of very few breeds that do so. ...

, Brahma, Buckeye, Indian Game, Ixworth,

Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...

Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...

among others. * the raspberry comb, as seen in the Orloff, which roughly resembles half a

raspberry The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus '' Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with w ...

, cut lengthwise. * the rose comb, as seen in the Hamburg and Wyandotte, broad and fairly fast, covered with small pointed protuberances, with a long backwards-facing spike to the rear. * the strawberry or walnut comb, as seen in the Malay, which roughly resembles half a strawberry or walnut. In hen birds the comb is usually smaller and neater than in the cock.

In cookery

Combs are used in cookery, often in combination with

wattle Wattle or wattles may refer to: Plants *''Acacia sensu lato'', polyphyletic genus of plants commonly known as wattle, especially in Australia and South Africa **''Acacia'', large genus of shrubs and trees, native to Australasia **Black wattle, c ...

s or chicken kidneys. Combs were formerly used in French cuisine as garnishes. They were also used to prepare salpicons served in vol-au-vents, profiteroles, etc. in which they were often combined with other luxury ingredients such as truffles, sweetbreads, or

morel ''Morchella'', the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales (division Ascomycota). These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges with ...

s in a cream sauce. In Italian cuisine, cockscombs are an ingredient of , a traditional sauce which also includes chicken livers,

s and unlaid eggs. It is used in the pasta dish and in the main dish . Combs are prepared by parboiling and skinning, then cooking in court-bouillon. After preparation, they are greyish. They are often served in Chinese

dim sum Dim sum () is a large range of small Chinese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in restaurants for brunch. Most modern dim sum dishes are commonly associated with Cantonese cuisine, although dim sum dishes also exist in other Chinese cuis ...

-style dishes.

Other

Because of its bright color and distinctive shape, "cockscomb" also describes various plants, including the florists' plant ''

Celosia cristata ''Celosia argentea'' var. ''cristata'' (formerly ''Celosia cristata''), known as cockscomb, is the cristate or crested variety of the species ''Celosia argentea''. It was likely originally native to India, where it was saved from extinction in ...

'', the meadow weed yellow rattle, sainfoin, wild poppy,

lousewort ''Pedicularis'' is a genus of perennial green root parasite plants currently placed in the family Orobanchaceae (the genus previously having been placed in Scrophulariaceae ''sensu lato''). Description Between 350 and 600 species are accep ...

, '' Erythronium'' and ''

Erythrina crista-galli ''Erythrina crista-galli'', often known as the cockspur coral tree, is a flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil and Paraguay. It is widely planted as a street or garden tree in other countries, not ...

''; the characteristic

jester A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs and ...

's cap; a shape of pasta (''creste di galli''); and so on.

Spelling variations

* cockscomb * cock's comb * cock's-comb * coxcomb

Gallery

Zijaanzichtkophaan.JPG, Brown rooster CHUCK - Flickr - Cornelia Kopp.jpg Haushuhn مرغ خانگی 06.jpg Poules en bio à Bailleul-Neuville 16.jpg Rooster02 detail.jpg Rooster in Kathmandu, Nepal.jpg Rooster cockerel.jpg Kakasok.jpg Rooster portrait, France.jpg Crested Rooster.jpg Cresta nuez 114x106px.jpg Cresta guisante 114x106px.jpg Cresta rosa 114x106px.jpg

References