# Crested Chicken Breeds: Crest Types and Care
A crested chicken carries a tuft of elongated feathers on top of the head instead of the small, close-lying feathers found on most breeds. The crest of a chicken is not a cosmetic hat sitting on a normal skull. In many crested chickens it sits over a modified, dome-shaped skull, and in some breeds the bone beneath the feathers is incomplete. That single anatomical fact drives almost everything an owner needs to know about housing, handling, grooming and health monitoring in these birds.
This guide covers five widely kept crested breeds (Polish, Silkie, Houdan, Crevecoeur and Appenzeller Spitzhauben), explains how their crests and skulls differ, and gives practical care routines for vision, skin health and weather protection. It also explains why a vaulted skull raises the risk of head injury and neurologic signs, and how to reduce that risk in a backyard flock.
This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
## At a Glance
The table below compares the five breeds on the features owners ask about most. Where a numeric figure is not established for a breed, the entry describes the trait qualitatively rather than inventing a number.
| Feature | Polish | Silkie | Houdan | Crevecoeur | Appenzeller Spitzhauben |
|--|--|--|--|--|--|
| Crest size | Large, often very large | Small to moderate | Moderate to large, often forward-swept | Moderate, upright | Small, forward-pointing tuft |
| Beard or muff | Many varieties bearded | Bearded and muffs common | Bearded and muffed | Muffs and beard present | No beard, small pointed tuft |
| Skull shape | Pronounced vaulted protuberance | Small crest, less pronounced vault | Vaulted crest base | Vaulted crest base | Upright pointed tuft, minimal vault |
| Cerebral hernia association | Strongly associated with large crest [1] | Duplication present but herniation not typical [1] | Crested skull type | Crested skull type | Crested skull type |
| Primary use | Ornamental, exhibition, backyard | Ornamental, backyard, broody utility | Dual purpose, ornamental | Ornamental, utility | Foraging, ornamental |
| Crest grooming demand | High | Moderate | Moderate to high | Moderate | Low |
| Cold and wet weather risk | High for crest | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Lower |
| Vision obstruction risk | High | Low to moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
The table reflects general breed character. Individual birds vary, and a responsible breeder or rescue can tell you how a specific line tends to grow out.
## What Makes a Crested Chicken Different
The crest trait in domestic chickens is inherited. It shows incomplete dominance, meaning a bird with one copy of the mutation and a bird with two copies can look different in crest size and skull development [1]. A 197 base pair duplication in an intron of the HOXC10 gene on chromosome 33 is the change that produces the crest phenotype. In a diagnostic survey, this duplication was present in all 54 crested chickens tested across eight breeds and absent from all 433 non-crested chickens tested across 214 populations [1].
The mutation causes ectopic expression of at least five closely linked HOXC genes in the skin of the head. The practical interpretation offered by the researchers is that crest feathers arise because the body region identity of the head skin has been altered, so skin that would normally produce small head feathers produces larger dorsal-type feathers instead [1]. A separate study mapped the same region and confirmed a 195 base pair intronic tandem duplication in HOXC10, with ectopic HOXC [gene expression](/blog/guides/gene-expression) in fetal skin and meningeal tissue of crested chickens that had cerebral hernia [2].
Two findings matter for owners. First, the crest is a whole-tissue change, not just a feather pattern. Second, the same genetic region influences the frontal bone and the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain [2]. That is why crest size and skull completeness tend to travel together in some breeds and not in others.
## The Vaulted Skull Explained
The chicken skull (number 9) shows the bony dome that underlies a crest, unlike the flatter skulls of other birds. Image: Unclear (initials ACC?), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
In many crested chickens, the anterodorsal region of the skull forms a bony protuberance. The telencephalon, the front part of the brain, is displaced upward into that protuberance. In White Crested Polish chickens this displacement gives the brain an hourglass shape [3]. A later geometric morphometric study of cephalic endocasts described the same breed as having cerebral herniation from anterodorsal displacement of the telencephalon, producing a prominent protuberance on the top of the skull [4].
The term vaulted skull describes this dome. In affected birds the bone over the protuberance is not fully sealed. The HOXC10 duplication is required for the development of a large crest and for susceptibility to cerebral hernia, because only crested chickens show the malformation. The same duplication is not sufficient on its own to cause herniation, since breeds with a small crest, such as the Silkie, can carry the duplication without the herniation typical of large-crested Polish birds [1].
### What the Brain Looks Like Under the Crest
Comparative work shows the crested brain is not simply a normal brain pushed into a bump. In White Crested Polish chickens, allometric comparison found the brain is relatively larger than in uncrested breeds. Part of that enlargement comes from enlarged ventricles seen in some individuals. The optic tract, diencephalon, telencephalon, accessory hyperstriatum, dorsal and ventral hyperstriatum, and neostriatum are significantly enlarged in this breed compared with seven uncrested chicken breeds, while structures such as the cerebellum, tectum, hippocampus and olfactory bulb are not significantly larger [3]. A later study found Polish chickens have a relatively larger cerebrum and smaller cerebellum and medulla than White Leghorns, and that their overall brain configuration is highly variable [4].
### Cellular Changes in the Herniated Forebrain
A study of cerebral hernia in crested chickens examined the malformed telencephalon directly. Researchers observed an unsealed frontal skull combined with a misplaced sphenoid bone, which they associated with the brain protuberance. Within the forebrain they found a shifted pallidum, an elongated hippocampus, an expanded mesopallium and nidopallium, and a reduced hyperpallium across seven regions. Neurons showed nuclear pyknosis and decreased density. Astrocytes were unevenly distributed with disordered processes in the hyperpallium and hippocampus. Transcriptome analysis found 547 differentially expressed genes, mainly related to nervous system development and immune system processes, including the astrocyte marker GFAP and the developmental gene S100A6. Upregulation of GFAP and S100A6 correlated with reduced [DNA methylation](/blog/guides/dna-methylation) in their promoter regions [5].
The authors framed these morphological, cellular and molecular changes as potential contributors to brain plasticity and to previously reported behavioral differences in these birds [5]. For an owner, the takeaway is that a large crest over a vaulted skull is a marker of a genuinely altered brain and skull anatomy, not a cosmetic trait layered on normal anatomy.
### Why This Raises Injury Risk
Because the bone over the protuberance is incomplete and covered mainly by skin, fat and feather tissue, the brain sits closer to the outside world than it does in an uncrested bird. Imaging work in crested ducks demonstrated abnormal fatty tissue deposits in the tentorium cerebelli, cranial malformations, variable bone formations in the thickened hypodermis of the crest, and increased cranial capacity compared with other duck breeds [6]. The same principle of a thin, modified covering over a malformed cranium applies to crested chickens.
The practical consequences are direct. A peck to the top of the head, a blow from a feeder or coop fixture, a fall, or a hard grip on the head can transmit force to tissue that has little bony protection. Owners of large-crested birds should treat the top of the head as a protected area.
## Breed by Breed: Crest Types and Skull Shape
### Polish
Polish chickens carry the largest and most variable crests of the common backyard crested breeds. The crest covers a bony protuberance, and the telencephalon is displaced into it, producing the hourglass brain shape described in the allometric literature [3]. The breed is the standard model for cerebral hernia research, and the HOXC10 duplication upregulates HOXC gene expression into skull tissue in Polish chickens showing a large crest often associated with cerebral hernia [1].
Polish birds come in bearded and non-bearded varieties. The crest is often so full that it drapes over the eyes and can obstruct forward vision. Because the crest is large and the skull vault is pronounced, Polish chickens are the breed where head protection and crest grooming matter most.
### Silkie
Silkies carry the same HOXC10 duplication as Polish chickens but typically have a small crest. In the diagnostic survey, the duplication was present in all crested chickens tested, yet the upregulated HOXC expression that extends into skull tissue in large-crested Polish birds was not seen in Silkies, which are characterized by a small crest [1]. This is the clearest illustration that the mutation is necessary but not sufficient for herniation.
Silkies are also known for a distinctive feather type and for bearded and muffed varieties. Their smaller crest means less vision obstruction and less skull vaulting than Polish birds, but the crest still traps moisture and debris and still needs routine inspection.
### Houdan
Houdans combine a moderate to large crest with a beard and muffs. The crest tends to sweep forward, and the combination of crest, beard and muff creates a dense feather mass around the face and eyes. Houdans are traditionally kept as a dual-purpose breed, so they are often managed in mixed flocks rather than as pure ornamentals.
The forward sweep of the Houdan crest means the feather mass sits over the face rather than straight up. Owners should check regularly for feathers crossing the eye and for trapped moisture where the crest meets the beard.
### Crevecoeur
Crevecoeur chickens have a moderate upright crest with muffs and a beard. The crest base sits on a vaulted skull, and the face is heavily feathered. Crevecoeur birds are ornamental and utility birds historically, and they share the general crested skull architecture seen across the group.
The upright crest on Crevecoeur birds collects rain and snow more readily than a forward-swept crest, so weather management is a recurring task in wet climates.
### Appenzeller Spitzhauben
The Appenzeller Spitzhauben has a small, forward-pointing tuft rather than a full crest. The tuft is upright and pointed, and the breed does not carry the beard and muff combination seen in Houdans and Crevecoeurs. Because the crest is small, the skull vault is minimal and the vision obstruction risk is low.
This breed is the most practical choice for an owner who wants a crested look without the grooming and head-protection demands of a large-crested bird. It is also the breed in this group least likely to need feather trimming around the eyes.
## Crest Size, Beard and Skull Shape Compared
Three variables interact in every crested bird: crest size, presence of a beard or muff, and the degree of skull vaulting.
Crest size determines how much feather mass sits over the eyes and how much moisture the crest holds. Large crests, as in many Polish lines, create the greatest grooming burden. Small crests, as in Silkies and Spitzhaubens, create the least.
Beard and muff determine how much feathering surrounds the face. A bearded, muffed bird such as a Houdan or Crevecoeur has feather mass below the eyes as well as above them, which narrows the visual field from two directions.
Skull vaulting determines head injury risk. A pronounced vault, as in large-crested Polish birds, means a larger area of modified, incompletely sealed skull. A minimal vault, as in Spitzhaubens, means the head is closer to the standard avian architecture.
These three variables do not move together automatically. The Silkie is the proof: it carries the crest mutation but has a small crest and does not show the herniation pattern typical of large-crested Polish birds [1].
## History and Purpose of Crested Breeds
Crested chickens have been recognized for centuries. The cerebral hernia of crested chickens has been characterized as the protrusion of cerebral hemispheres into the unsealed skull since the time of Charles Darwin [5]. That long observational history reflects how visible the trait is: a bird with a large crest and a domed skull stands out immediately in a flock.
The genetic work of the past several years has clarified what breeders and naturalists observed for generations. The crest is caused by a specific duplication in HOXC10 that alters body region identity in head skin [1]. The same region influences frontal bone and meningeal development, which explains the link between large crests and unsealed skulls [2]. Studies in crested ducks have shown a parallel pattern, with skull perforations first visible at embryonic day 13 and clearer at day 15, intracranial fat appearing in some individuals from day 15, and small osteophytes at day 18 [7]. HOXC8 was highly expressed in the crest cushion of these ducks [7], and ectopic expression of HOXC8 or HOXC10 in chicken embryos produced a mild upward shape change in the frontal region of the skull similar to that seen in crested breeds [8].
The breeds themselves serve different purposes. Polish and Silkie chickens are kept mainly as ornamentals and backyard birds. Houdans and Crevecoeurs have historically been dual-purpose. Appenzeller Spitzhaubens are active foragers with a small ornamental tuft. A 2021 [RNA sequencing](/blog/guides/rna-sequencing) study of the Wumeng crested chicken described the same tumor-like skull protrusion seen in other crested breeds and noted that the trait is incompletely dominant and related to brain herniation [9], confirming that this architecture is a shared feature of crested chickens rather than a quirk of one breed.
## Temperament and Behavior
Crested chickens behave like chickens, with a few caveats that follow from their anatomy. Vision obstruction from a large crest can make a bird more easily startled, more hesitant to approach food, and more likely to be picked on in a mixed flock. A bird that cannot see a flockmate approaching from the side is at a social disadvantage.
There is also evidence that crested breeds form breed-specific social groupings. In an open field study, White Crested Polish chickens kept shorter inter-individual distances within their own breed than across breeds when raised together with Lohmann Brown Classic and Red Leghorn chickens. Intra-breed distances differed significantly from cross-breed distances, and the authors interpreted this flocking as a possible breed-specific social and sexual preference [10]. For owners, this suggests that crested birds may do best when they have at least one flockmate of similar type, rather than being the only heavily crested bird in a group of uncrested birds.
Temperament varies by line and by individual handling history. A calm, frequently handled crested bird is easier to groom and easier to examine. A skittish bird with a large crest is harder to check for skin problems and more likely to injure itself when startled.
## Housing and Head Protection
Housing is where the vaulted skull changes management most. The goal is to remove anything that can strike the top of the head.
Feeders and drinkers with sharp or low edges are a common source of head contact. A bird reaching under a low lip can scrape the crest and the skin over the vault. Choose feeders and drinkers with smooth, rounded edges and enough clearance that a crested bird can eat without dragging its head.
Perches and nest boxes matter as well. A bird that must duck under a low perch to reach a nest can bump its crest repeatedly. Provide clear headroom on the route to the nest and on the perch itself.
Mixed flocks need a plan. Uncrested birds sometimes peck at a crest, and a peck to the top of a crested head is exactly the injury to avoid. Provide enough space, multiple feed and water stations, and visual breaks so a crested bird can eat and rest without being crowded. If a specific bird is being targeted, separate it rather than waiting for a wound.
Predator-proofing is standard poultry practice, but it matters more here. A panicked crested bird that cannot see well is more likely to collide with fencing or fixtures while fleeing. Solid, visible barriers and covered runs reduce both predator access and self-injury risk.
## Grooming the Crest of a Chicken
Crest grooming has three goals: keep the eyes clear, keep the skin under the crest dry and clean, and catch problems early.
### Trimming Feathers Around the Eyes
When crest feathers grow across the eyes, the bird loses forward vision. Trimming is the standard fix. Use small, sharp, curved scissors with rounded tips. Have a second person hold the bird securely with the head supported and the crest lifted away from the skull. Trim only the feathers that cross the eye, working in small increments and keeping the blades pointed away from the eye. Do not cut close to the skin over the vault, and do not pull feathers.
Trim conservatively. A bird that can see its food, its flockmates and its surroundings is safer and calmer. A bird that has been over-trimmed loses weather protection on the crown.
### Checking Under the Crest
The space under a crest stays warm and humid, which is favorable for external parasites and for skin irritation. Part the feathers down to the skin at least every one to two weeks and look for mites, lice, crusting, redness, broken skin and unusual lumps. Pay attention to the skin directly over the vault, where the covering is thin.
If you find external parasites, treat the flock and the housing together. Parasite control products for poultry vary in their legal status and withdrawal times in the United States, so confirm the correct product and interval with a veterinarian before applying anything to a bird you plan to eat eggs from or process for meat.
### Managing Moisture
A wet crest is a cold crest. Feathers that stay damp lose insulating value, and in freezing weather a damp crest can contribute to frostbite on the skin beneath it. After rain, snow or a bath, check the crest and blot it dry with a soft towel. In prolonged wet weather, provide a covered dry area where crested birds can shelter.
Do not use a hair dryer on a bird. The heat is difficult to control and the noise stresses the bird. Towel drying and a dry, draft-free shelter are enough.
### Protecting the Crest in Cold Weather
In freezing conditions, a damp crest is the main risk. Keep bedding dry, keep waterers from spilling into the bedding, and provide a sheltered area out of wind. A crest that is dry and intact insulates well. A crest that is wet and matted does not.
If the skin under the crest looks pale, waxy or discolored in cold weather, treat it as a possible frostbite concern and contact a veterinarian. Frostbite damage is not always visible immediately and can worsen over days.
### Protecting the Crest in Hot Weather
Heat is the opposite problem. A heavy crest traps heat over the head, and heavily feathered breeds can struggle in high temperatures. Provide shade, ventilation and cool water. Watch for open-mouth breathing and wing holding, which are signs of heat stress in chickens. If a crested bird is panting while its flockmates are comfortable, move it to a cooler area.
## Feeding Considerations
Crested chickens eat the same base diet as other chickens: a complete poultry feed appropriate to age and production status, with grit available as needed and clean water at all times. There is no diet that treats or prevents the skull anatomy associated with a crest.
The feeding-related issue specific to crested birds is access. A large crest can block the view of the feed, and a beard and muff can drag in the feed and water. Use shallow, wide feeders so the bird can see the feed while eating, and check the beard and muff for caked feed after meals. Caked feed against the skin holds moisture and can irritate the skin and feathers.
In mixed flocks, watch that crested birds are actually getting their share. A bird that cannot see well may hang back at the feeder. Multiple feeding stations reduce competition.
## Inherited and Common Health Problems
### Cerebral Hernia and Neurologic Signs
Cerebral hernia is the protrusion of cerebral hemispheres into the unsealed skull, and it is the defining inherited condition of large-crested chickens [5]. The HOXC10 duplication is required for a large crest and for susceptibility to herniation, but it is not sufficient on its own, since small-crested breeds carrying the duplication do not show the herniation pattern typical of large-crested Polish birds [1].
The cellular changes documented in the herniated forebrain include reduced neuron density, nuclear pyknosis, uneven astrocyte distribution, and altered expression of GFAP and S100A6 [5]. These findings help explain why a crested bird with a head injury can show neurologic signs that look disproportionate to the visible wound.
Signs that warrant veterinary attention include head tilt, circling, loss of balance, abnormal head posture, reluctance to move, changes in eating or drinking, and any sudden change in behavior after a head impact. Do not attempt to treat a suspected head injury at home.
### Head Trauma
Head trauma is the most predictable acquired problem in a crested bird. The bone over the vault is incomplete, and the covering is soft tissue. A peck, a bump, a fall or a hard grip can cause injury that would be minor in an uncrested bird.
Prevention is straightforward. Support the head whenever you handle a crested bird, never lift a bird by the head or neck, and never allow children to carry a large-crested bird unsupervised. Keep the coop free of low, hard edges at head height. Separate birds that peck at the crest.
### External Parasites
Mites and lice are a flock-wide concern, and the crest creates a sheltered microclimate where they can persist. Routine parting and inspection of the crest is the main surveillance tool. Treat the bird and the environment together, and confirm product choice and egg or meat withdrawal intervals with a veterinarian.
### Skin Infections Under the Crest
Moisture, warmth and limited airflow under a crest favor bacterial and fungal skin problems. Signs include redness, crusting, odor, matted feathers that do not dry, and skin that looks raw or broken. These are veterinary problems, not grooming problems. A veterinarian can identify the organism and prescribe appropriate treatment.
### Frostbite
Frostbite risk rises when the crest is wet in freezing weather. Dry the crest after any wet exposure, keep bedding dry, and provide wind protection. Check the skin under the crest after cold snaps and report discoloration or non-healing skin to a veterinarian.
### Respiratory and General Poultry Disease
Crested chickens are susceptible to the same respiratory, enteric and parasitic diseases as other chickens. The crest does not change the disease list, but it does make some examinations harder, because the crest and facial feathers obscure the eyes, nostrils and skin. A veterinarian who examines poultry regularly will know how to work around the feathering.
### Screening and Monitoring
There is no genetic test in routine clinical use for the crest duplication, and no screening test that predicts herniation in an individual bird. Monitoring is observational: watch for neurologic signs, check the crest skin regularly, and respond quickly to any head impact. A veterinarian familiar with poultry can assess a bird with neurologic signs and determine whether imaging or other diagnostics are appropriate.
## Lifespan and Long-Term Care
Lifespan in crested chickens depends on breed, management and the individual bird. Large-crested birds face additional risks from head injury and from vision-related accidents, and those risks accumulate over a longer life. The most useful long-term care habits are consistent: routine crest inspection, careful handling, a coop designed to protect the head, and prompt veterinary attention after any head trauma.
Owners should also plan for the fact that crest size and skull development change as a bird matures. A chick that looks lightly crested may develop a substantial crest as it grows, and the housing and grooming plan should be revisited as the bird fills out.
## Finding a Responsible Breeder or Rescue
A responsible breeder or rescue will be able to tell you about the crest and skull characteristics of the line, not just the feather color. Ask how the birds are housed, whether the crest is trimmed routinely, and whether any birds in the line have shown neurologic signs. A breeder who dismisses head injury risk in a large-crested line is not giving you the information you need.
Ask to see the birds in person if possible. Look at how the crest sits, whether the eyes are visible, and whether the skin under the crest looks clean and dry. Ask about the age of the birds and how they have been handled, since a calm, frequently handled bird is easier to groom and examine.
Rescues and rehoming situations are a reasonable option. A crested bird that has been kept as a pet may already be accustomed to handling, which makes routine grooming easier. Ask about any history of head injury or neurologic episodes before you take the bird home.
## Who Should Not Get a Crested Breed
A crested breed is a poor fit for an owner who wants a low-maintenance flock with no routine grooming. The crest of a chicken requires regular inspection, and large-crested birds often need periodic feather trimming around the eyes.
It is also a poor fit for households with young children who want to carry birds. A large-crested bird's head is vulnerable, and a dropped or squeezed bird can suffer serious injury.
Owners in very wet or very cold climates should be realistic about the extra work. A damp crest in freezing weather is a recurring management problem, and it requires daily attention during bad weather.
Finally, a crested breed is a poor fit for an owner who cannot access poultry veterinary care. Neurologic signs after a head injury need prompt professional assessment, and a flock without a veterinarian of record is at a disadvantage.
## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
This article describes breed-level anatomy and general care. Individual birds vary, and a veterinarian who examines your bird can give advice specific to that animal.
Contact a veterinarian promptly if a crested bird shows any of the following:
1. Any head impact, peck to the crest, or fall, even if the bird looks normal afterward.
2. Head tilt, circling, loss of balance, abnormal head posture or a sudden change in behavior.
3. Reluctance to eat or drink, or a drop in activity that persists for more than a day.
4. Redness, crusting, odor, broken skin or a lump under the crest.
5. Matted feathers that stay damp, or skin that looks raw or discolored.
6. Signs of external parasites that do not resolve after treatment of the bird and the environment.
7. Pale, waxy or discolored skin under the crest after cold weather.
8. Open-mouth breathing or wing holding that suggests heat stress.
9. Any wound that does not heal, or any swelling around the head or face.
10. Neurologic signs in a flockmate, since some [poultry diseases](/knowledge/bacteria/avian-bacteria/poultry-diseases-viral-bacterial-pathogens-classification-diagnostic-approaches) spread within a group.
For flock-level concerns such as respiratory disease, parasite outbreaks or sudden deaths, contact a veterinarian who works with poultry. According to the AVMA, poultry owners should work with a veterinarian on flock health planning and on the legal use of any medication in birds producing eggs or meat. The Merck Veterinary Manual is a useful reference for understanding poultry disease categories, but it does not replace an examination of your birds.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is a crested chicken?
A crested chicken is a bird that carries a genetic trait producing a tuft of elongated feathers on top of the head. The trait is caused by a duplication in the HOXC10 gene and is found in breeds such as the Polish, Silkie, Houdan, Crevecoeur and Appenzeller Spitzhauben [1].
### Why do some crested chickens have a hole in the skull?
The same genetic region that produces the crest influences the frontal bone and meninges, and in large-crested birds the bone over the skull protuberance does not fully seal [2]. The result is a vaulted skull covered mainly by skin, fat and feathers.
### Is a vaulted skull dangerous for the bird?
It raises the risk of head injury because the brain sits closer to the surface with less bony protection. A peck, bump or fall that would be minor in an uncrested bird can cause neurologic signs in a crested bird [5].
### Do all crested chickens develop cerebral hernia?
No. The HOXC10 duplication is required for a large crest and for susceptibility to herniation, but it is not sufficient on its own. Small-crested breeds such as the Silkie carry the duplication without the herniation pattern seen in large-crested Polish birds [1].
### How often should I trim the crest feathers?
Trim only when feathers cross the eyes and obstruct vision. Check the eyes at least weekly, and trim conservatively with small, rounded-tip scissors while a second person supports the bird's head.
### How do I check for mites under the crest?
Part the crest feathers down to the skin every one to two weeks and look for mites, lice, crusting, redness and broken skin. Treat the bird and the housing together, and confirm product choice and withdrawal intervals with a veterinarian.
### Can a crested chicken get frostbite on its crest?
Yes, especially if the crest stays wet in freezing weather. Dry the crest after rain, snow or bathing, keep bedding dry, and provide a sheltered area out of the wind.
### Should crested chickens be kept with uncrested breeds?
They can be, but mixed flocks need extra space, multiple feed and water stations, and monitoring for crest pecking. Some evidence suggests crested birds group more closely with their own breed, so having a similar flockmate may help [10].
## Related Articles
- [Crested Gecko Care Guide](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/reptile-care/crested-gecko-care)
- [Dog Breeds: Health Guide and Care Tips for Popular Types](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/dog-breeds-health-guide)
- [Raising Chickens for Eggs: Breed Selection, Care, and Egg Production](/knowledge/animal-farming/poultry/raising-chickens-for-eggs-breed-selection-care-and-egg-production)
- [Cat Breeds: Health Comparison and Care Tips for Popular Types](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/cat-breeds-health-comparison)
- [Crested Gecko Not Eating](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/reptile-care/crested-gecko-not-eating)
- [Hairless Cat: Care, Health, and Breed Guide](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/hairless-cat-care-health)
- [IV Fluids: Types, Rates, and Vet Calculations](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/emergency-and-first-aid/iv-fluids-types-rates-and-vet-calculations)
- [Mange in Cats: Symptoms, Types, and Treatment](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/skin-allergy-and-ear-care/mange-in-cats-symptoms-types-and-treatment)
- [Muscle Tissue: Types, Structure, and Function](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/veterinary-anatomy-physiology/muscle-tissue-types-structure-and-function)
## Sources
1. [The crest phenotype in domestic chicken is caused by a 197 bp duplication in the intron of HOXC10.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704432/)
2. [HOXC10 intronic duplication is associated with unsealed skull and crest in crested chicken with cerebral hernia.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35905851/)
3. [Allometric comparison of the brain and brain structures in the white crested polish chicken with uncrested domestic chicken breeds.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9807014/)
4. [Dumbbell-shaped brains of Polish crested chickens as a model system for the evolution of novel brain morphologies.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37165612/)
5. [Deciphering the Forebrain Disorder in a Chicken Model of Cerebral Hernia.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32867218/)
6. [The use of conventional radiography and computer-assisted tomography as instruments for demonstration of gross pathological lesions in the cranium and cerebrum in the crested breed of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f.dom.).](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19184795/)
7. [Embryonic morphology observation and HOXC8 gene expression in crest cushions of Chinese Crested duck.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30529099/)
8. [Chicken HOXC8 and HOXC10 genes may play a role in the altered skull morphology associated with the Crest phenotype.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37039065/)
9. [RNA-sequence reveals differentially expressed genes affecting the crested trait of Wumeng crested chicken.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34329989/)
10. [Breed-specific companions--inter-individual distances reflect isolating mechanisms within domesticated chickens (Gallus gallus f.d.).](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18498945/)
