Do you have to decomb a chicken?

Answer 1

It only depends on the type of chicken you have and in what area you live in. If you live in states with very cold winters and the chickens have large combs,then it should be decombed to stop frost bite.

NO You do not have to remove a chickens comb and you should not. Removing the comb off a chicken is absolutely not necessary, anywhere.

The comb has two functions. The primary function of the comb is to cool the chicken down in the summer. It is like a small radiator and blood flows close to the surface of the comb, air passing over the comb will remove some of the radiated heat and cool the blood as it passes through. Chickens do not sweat, taking off the comb would be like covering yourself in plastic wrap and sitting in the hot sun.

The other function for the comb is to attract a mate. A healthy comb on either gender indicates potentially good genetic quality recognized by potential mates.