As you learn more about having chickens in your backyard, you will hear words you have never heard before. Or at least that was the case for me. I thought there were chicks, hens, and roosters – what in the world are all these other names being thrown around?.
And while no one is going to come after you if you don’t use the “right name” it is still extremely helpful in understanding differences between age and sex of chickens.
So, if you’re needing a little clarification and direction on chicken terminology this post is for you!
You just got your first batch of cute baby chicks. As you watch them peck and chirp around the brooder, you can’t help but wonder what you should call them. They have many names that depend on their age and gender. Here is a list of important terms for young chickens.
Chick
A new chicken hatchling is usually just called a “chick.” This word can be used for any chicken chick from the time it hatches until it gets its first real feathers, which usually happens between 3 and 6 weeks of age.
The chicks are covered in soft down feathers and can’t control their own body temperature when they first come out of the egg. Because of this, they need extra heat, like from a brooder lamp. The chick stage lasts until they get all of their feathers and don’t need to be warmed up by lights.
During this phase, chicks eat starter feed which provides extra protein for rapid growth. They also drink water and peck at greens and bugs. You’ll hear chicks “peeping” constantly as they communicate with each other. It’s normal for chicks to be very active and chirpy!
Pullet
Once female chicks have grown their feathers after a few weeks they are called pullets. This term refers specifically to young female chickens under 1 year old.
Pullets enter the “teenage” phase where their combs and wattles become more prominent. You may notice them testing out their wings with short flights around the coop. Their peeping voices also mature into more distinctive clucking.
When pullets are young, they eat grower feed until they are 16 to 20 weeks old. At that point, you switch them to layer feed to help them lay eggs. A pullet’s first egg is said to be laid at the “point of lay.” ”.
Cockerel
Male chicks are called cockerels once they pass the downy chick phase and grow feathers. A cockerel is a young male chicken less than 1 year old.
Like pullets, cockerels develop more adult features like larger combs and wattles. You’ll hear them practicing their crows, which start out crackly and uneven.
Cockerels don’t lay eggs, so they can stay on grower feed longer than pullets. Around 20 weeks, switch them to finisher feed with less protein content. This helps prevent obesity later on.
Hen
A female chicken becomes known as a hen once she reaches adulthood at 1 year old. By this age, hens are fully mature and laying eggs regularly.
Hens sport long saddle, hackle, and tail feathers plus fully red combs and wattles. Their egg laying is in full swing, which requires a diet of at least 16% protein layer feed.
You can distinguish hens from younger female chickens by their larger size, prominent breeding signs, and consistent egg production. An active, healthy hen can keep laying eggs for many years.
Rooster
After one year, a male chicken graduates from cockerel to rooster. He’s now a sexually mature adult.
Roosters are larger and have longer feathers like long sickle tail feathers. Their combs and wattles turn bright red. But the most obvious sign is their loud, resonant crowing.
Roosters establish a pecking order with hens and compete for mating opportunities. They stay on finisher feed to prevent obesity and remain active. A rooster in his prime will crow dawn to dusk!
Broiler
Broilers are chickens bred specifically for meat production. They are ready for processing around 6-8 weeks old once they reach 4-5 lbs.
Broilers have genetic traits like fast growth and high feed conversion rates. They rapidly put on weight thanks to high-protein broiler feed. Most broilers are a Cornish Cross hybrid.
Broilers raised for commercial meat spend their short lives in large broiler houses with regulated lighting and ventilation systems. In a backyard setting, broilers can free range while they grow.
Fryer
A young meat chicken between 9 and 12 weeks old is sometimes called a fryer. They are typically 5-6 lbs at this stage, making them a good size for culinary use.
Fryers are larger and more fully developed than broilers but still tender enough for frying and grilling. Common fryer breeds include Cornish Crosses, Plymouth Rocks, and Orpingtons.
Free range fryers will forage for grass and insects in addition to eating starter and grower feed. Some backyard chicken owners prefer fryers over broilers for a longer, more natural life.
Roaster
The term roaster refers to a large, mature chicken raised to be cooked whole and served at the table. Roasters are generally processed between 12-18 weeks when they reach 8 lbs or heavier.
Slower growing heritage breeds like Jersey Giants, Chanteclers, and Delawares work well as roasters. They take more time to put on weight but produce flavorful, high quality meat.
Roasters should have a diet lower in protein to prevent excess fat. Letting them free range cuts down on feed costs while allowing natural behaviors. Roasters are the chickens pictured on holiday tables.
Capon
A capon is a castrated male chicken, typically under 10 months old. Removing testosterone causes the rooster to grow larger and more slowly with tender, juicy meat.
The caponization surgery is done at 4-8 weeks by a veterinarian. Capons can reach 10+ lbs after 16-20 weeks, making them the largest chickens raised for meat. They are like the steers of the chicken world.
Common capon breeds include Cornish Crosses, Plymouth Rocks, Jersey Giants, and Cochins. Capons require extra time and labor but produce a premium end product.
Spring Chicken
“Spring chicken” can refer to both a young broiler chicken processed under 3 lbs and also to any chicken hatched in the spring.
New spring chickens are tender and delicate compared to tougher old laying hens. This term evokes images of freshness associated with the season.
Of course, modern poultry farming allows fresh chicken year-round. But the idiom “no spring chicken” means someone is old, so the young spring chicken remains iconic.
Pet Names
Finally, chickens kept solely as pets or show birds may get individual nicknames. Some popular ones include Nugget, Peeps, Pippi, Chickpea, Feathers, and Poppy. Let your imagination run wild!
With so many terms, it can get confusing! Just remember chicks become pullets and cockerels, which become hens and roosters. Broilers, fryers, and roasters are for eating. Capons and spring chickens also describe poultry for meat. Now you know what to call those cute fuzzy chicks from day one!
What is a straight run when purchasing chicks?
This means you are buying unsexed chicks. You select the number of chicks you want, and you will end up with varying amounts of baby roosters and hens. There is no way to control how many of each sex you will end up with.
Once you are able to determine if your chicken is a male or a female (usually around 6-8 weeks of age), you can start referring to them using the follow age-appropriate terms.
What makes a pullet a hen?
You should call your lay chickens “hens” after they are 12 months old. Before that, they were called “pullet.” At this point, they should be laying eggs regularly. You may also hear the terms broody hen, mother hen, or biddy.
A broody hen is a bird who wants to sit on a clutch of eggs with the purpose of hatching them. She will exhibit behaviors, like moodiness and not eating or drinking much, during this time.
A mother hen is a bird who is now feeding and protecting her chicks that she has recently hatched. In some cases, a hen will even mother chicks that she did not hatch. We’ve had instances where our broody hen has left the chicken coop after a week of hatching chicks and one of our other hens has taken over.
A hen that is older than two years old (usually when she stops laying eggs as often) is sometimes called a “biddy.”
Are you setting up for a new set of backyard chickens? Be sure to check out this post on nesting boxes for your hens! How Big Does My Chicken Nesting Box Need to Be?.
The DIFFERENCE Between ROOSTERS And HENS
FAQ
What is the name of a young chicken?
Chicken Development TermsTermDefinitionChickNewly Hatched ChickenCockerelMale that is under a year oldPulletFemale that is under a year oldJuvenileA young male or female bird.
What do you call a younger chicken?
The males are roosters/cocks, and the females are hens. Young hens are called pullets, young roosters are called cockerels. Very young/newborn chickens of either sex are called chicks.
What are the 5 stages of a chicken?
The life cycle of a chicken comprises 5 stages- Egg fertilization, Egg embryo, Chick, Pullet, and Adult. A chicken’s life cycle lasts around 21 days, beginning with the hen laying a fertilized egg and ending with the chick hatching.
What do you call a baby chicken?
Chicks are baby chickens! Baby chickens are called chicks, 3 month old females are called pullets (until they start laying eggs around 6 months), adult females who lay eggs are hens, and males are roosters, cocks, or cockerels. After a mother hen lays an egg, she sits on it for almost 24 hours a day until it hatches.