Funky Chicken Coop Tour - Austin, Texas - March 30, 2013

Did you know that noone really knows what the uvula is for? Its the thing that hangs down in the back of the mouth. Some think it is for speech, some think it is vestigial for animals that used to drink bending forward. But I think I have discovered its purpose, by studying my roosters panting!!

Now, of course, the uvula would have some effect on sound production and vocal output. Chickens have a hard palate. We have a soft palate. The uvula is slightly muscular, so the soft palate can change shape, and alter the sounds of voice/speech.

But if you really really really pay attention while you are breathing out with your mouth open, you can feel the heat of your own moist breath hit the uvula, and you can feel the increase in moisture as you exhale, just like some of the vapor condenses on the hard palate of the beak. And when you breath back in, you can feel an obvious drop in temperature. And then you swallow! Just like my little rooster!

I think it is a cooling mechanism of the soft palate, and GUESS WHAT?? {WHAT??}

The uvula is capable of producing a high quantity of saliva in a very short period of time! Why does that matter? Because air flow (All that Hot AIR coming out of my mouth) over moisture (saliva) causes cooling! If we are able to cool our temperature orally, by air passing over the saturated uvula, then the second mechanism of cooling, our skin, doesn't have to kick in! I think its the first line of defense, like a fleshy little thermoregulator.

I know, I know, this might be much more fascinating to me than to the chickens, but I think my rooster solved the riddle of the uvula! He gets treats today!!


-BluebonnetEggs


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