What Are the Functions of Wattles on Chickens?

Wattles are part of chickens' heat regulation system. They are unable to sweat. Instead they cool themselves through their blood circulation: the wattles and combs are thick with capillaries and veins for the overheated blood to pass through. It is air-cooled as it passes through these blood vessels. In turn, this cooler blood reduces the chicken’s internal temperature. This process is responsible for the bright red color of the chicken’s wattles and comb.

Chicks hatch without wattles or combs. Combs typically appear before wattles, at about the age of 3 weeks. Chicks that develop their combs early on are usually cockerels—male chicks. Developing combs appear yellowish; however, cockerels’ combs and wattles will often begin to redden as early as 5 or 6 weeks of age. Pullets—female chicks—usually start laying eggs about the same time as their combs and wattles turn bright red or pink.

Mature roosters usually possess much larger wattles than hens. Hens are attracted to roosters whose wattles have certain qualities. Roosters with extremely floppy wattles or that are missing wattles entirely are not as attractive to hens. Some research shows that the size of a rooster’s comb may be correlated with the amount of testosterone present in that rooster.

Wattles provide a means of determining chickens’ health. A healthy chicken will have brightly colored wattles and comb that are free of discoloration or blemishes. Chickens that are not feeling well or that are molting may have shrunken and pale wattles. Wattles may reveal many symptoms of various diseases, including scabs, lesions, hardened skin, bluish discoloration or warts. Any unusual growth or appearance on a chicken’s wattles should be taken as a sign that a veterinary exam is warranted, as many diseases can infect an entire flock if left untreated.