# What's a wattle to do?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 19, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607 "2004-08-19T20:42:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/1 "2004-08-19T20:42:30Z")

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A rooster has a wattle. Why? Does it do something? Is it just there for decoration? Every time I see a rooster I wonder but the internet isn’t revealing it’s secrets.

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/2 "2004-08-19T21:06:09Z")

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From [here:](http://www.pvmirror.com/nature/unknownfactsabout.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Roosters differ from hens by the greater development of their facial structures that form the enormous “combs” and chins, or by the presence of spurs on their feet and a showy plumage. The roosters’ red comb and chin play an important role in the courtship rituals as their brilliance is a reflection of their genetic and physical health, attributes that any good mother hen would like to leave to her descendants.

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**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/3 "2004-08-19T21:53:14Z")

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Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/4 "2004-08-19T22:25:59Z")

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Seems like just about anything that looks goofy and flashy in the animal kingdom is used to attract females. While this may explain the bright red of the cardinal or the peacock’s beautiful plumage, it still doesn’t account for Boy George.

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**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/5 "2004-08-19T22:57:20Z")

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Casey, you had the chance to end your submission with the phrase: “Because chicks dig it!” and you didn’t. That’s more forbearance than I have.

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**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-wattle-to-do/260607/6 "2004-08-20T02:52:14Z")

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I’m above making a poultry pun like that. Besides, it was in GQ at the time and I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers. I guess when it comes to annoying the mods, I get a little chicken. 😃