Whether you’ve hatched out a brood of chicks, bought straight-run chicks, or even bought sexed chicks, knowing which birds are hens and which ones are roosters can be tricky! Chickens have about a 50/50 gender ratio, meaning about 50% of fertile eggs will hatch as roosters and 50% will be hens.
In general, when baby chicks first hatch, there are few ways to accurately identify their sex–and no 100%, fail-proof accurate assessment method. However, as they mature, there are some tell-tale characteristics to be on the lookout for when identifying if you have roosters, hens, or a mixture of both in your flock! We will cover how to spot the signs of a rooster or a hen as your chickens grow and mature.
People who like having chickens in their yards often ask me what the difference is between a chicken and a hen. Some people might think these two birds are the same, but there are a few important differences that make them different. I hope that this article will help you understand the chicken hen and all of her interesting traits.
What is a Chicken Hen?
First, let’s start with some basic terminology. Men and women who are kept as pets and are less than one year old are both called chickens. Chickens raised for meat are usually slaughtered between 6-8 weeks.
A hen specifically indicates an adult female chicken that is over one year old. Most hens start laying eggs around 16-20 weeks and reach peak production at 30 weeks. They will continue laying eggs their whole life!
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Chicken generic term for both male and female young fowl
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Hen: adult female chicken over 1 year old
Hen vs Chicken: Key Differences
While a chicken hen is indeed a type of chicken there are some notable differences between hens and their younger counterparts
Size and Weight
Hens are larger in size and weight compared to chickens. A fully grown hen weighs an average of 4-8 pounds depending on breed, while a chicken is usually only 2-5 pounds.
Appearance
Hens have more pronounced combs and wattles than chickens. Their plumage is also more developed with solid patterns and coloring.
Egg Laying
The key purpose of hens is to lay eggs consistently. Hens can lay 250+ eggs annually beginning at 16-20 weeks of age. Chickens do not lay eggs.
Meat Quality
Hen meat is tougher with more fat and collagen. It tastes better because they ate a wider range of foods over a longer period of time. Chicken meat is more tender and mild.
Cost
Hens are more expensive to purchase than chicken pullets. Nevertheless, hens lay eggs nonstop for many years, which makes the costs worth it.
Temperament
Hens are typically gentler and less skittish than young chickens. Their hierarchy in the pecking order also makes hens more assertive.
Benefits of Keeping Chicken Hens
Here are some of top reasons to keep hens rather than chickens:
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Continuous supply of fresh eggs – A typical hen lays 4-5 eggs a week. Just 3-4 hens can provide 1+ dozen eggs weekly.
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Help control pests – Hens scratch through soil eating bugs, grubs and weeds that can damage gardens. Their manure also makes excellent fertilizer.
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Reduce food waste – Leftovers and kitchen scraps get a second life as chicken feed. Anything from veggie peels to pasta can be fed to hens.
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Companionship – Hens have unique personalities and make surprisingly affectionate pets. Their antics are endlessly entertaining.
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Teaching opportunities – Caring for hens helps kids learn responsibility and understand where food comes from.
Tips for Caring for Chicken Hens
Raising happy, healthy hens isn’t difficult, but there are some best practices to follow:
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Provide at least 2-4 sq ft of coop space per hen. Include roosts for sleeping and nesting boxes for eggs.
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Allow access to the outdoors. At least 10 sq ft per hen is ideal. This could be a fenced run or free range area.
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Feed a balanced diet including layer feed, grains, veggies and calcium supplements. Provide fresh, clean water always.
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Collect eggs daily, and check hens for illness, injuries, parasites etc. Trim beaks and nails if needed.
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Keep the coop and run clean. Remove droppings, leftover feed and soiled bedding regularly.
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Enrich their environment with dust baths, roosts, perches and hiding spots to engage natural behaviors.
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Handle gently and maintain a consistent daily routine. Give them lots of affection!
Distinguishing Roosters from Hens
Now that we’ve covered hens, how can you tell them apart from roosters? Here are the main distinguishing features of these gallant fowl:
Size and Appearance
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Roosters are larger with longer tail and hackle feathers, pointed saddle feathers and exaggerated combs/wattles.
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Hens are rounder, have shorter tails, and combs/wattles that are small and neat.
Plumage
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Roosters have colorful feathers with markings of iridescent blues, greens and reds.
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Hen feathers are generally solid and subtle in coloration. Some breeds have minimal patterns.
Behavior
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Roosters are vocal, territorial and assert dominance over the flock.
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Hens have a distinct pecking order and can be bossy towards each other, but are mellow overall.
Fertilization
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Roosters will mate with hens frequently to fertilize eggs.
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Hens lay eggs regularly regardless of a rooster’s presence. The eggs just won’t hatch.
Crowing
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Roosters are famous for their early morning crowing, but will vocalize loudly throughout the day.
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Hens make soft clucking and cackling sounds, especially when laying eggs.
Hen House Harmony
When housed together, hens and roosters can cohabitate nicely provided some basic practices are followed:
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10 hens to 1 rooster is the ideal ratio
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Provide 9+ square feet of coop space per bird
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Offer separate sleeping and nesting areas to minimize conflicts
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Ensure adequate food and water resources are available
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Provide peaceful isolation areas for any picked-on hens
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Rehome aggressive roosters who cause excessive disruptions
With adequate space, food, and roosting spots, the flock should be happily productive for years to come!
Choosing the Right Hen Breed
With over 200 breeds to choose from, selecting the right hen for your needs takes careful consideration:
Egg production – Leghorns, Australorps, Orpingtons
Cold hardy – Brahmas, Cochins, Wyandottes
Heat tolerant – Anconas, Andalusians, Minorcas
Foraging skills – Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Sussex
Friendly personalities – Silkies, Orpingtons, Easter Eggers
Metropolitan living – Bantams, Miniature Cochin, Dutch
Brooding – Buff Orpington, Silkie, Speckled Sussex
Dual purpose – Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Ameraucana
Consider your climate, space limitations, temperament preferences, and egg color/size needs when choosing breeds. Hatcheries can also help match you with rare and heirloom varieties to diversify your flock.
Parting Hen-House Wisdom
While hens require more space and investment than typical chickens, the dividends they offer in companionship and continuous eggs are well worth it. Do your research, choose suitable breeds, and get ready for a fulfilling backyard flock adventure!
# Buff Orpington Hen vs Rooster
Buff Orpington chickens can sometimes be feather-sexed at a young age. However, feather-sexing is not always 100% accurate with Buff Orpingtons. The good news is that Buff Orpingtons grow up quickly. This means that the differences between roosters and hens will show up faster than in breeds that grow up more slowly.
It’s likely that chicks that are bigger, stockier, have thicker legs, and start to get a bigger comb and wattles are roosters. Chicks that are smaller and who have shorter, more petite legs will more than likely be hens. Roosters will also carry themselves more upright than hens.
Additionally, here is how Buff Orpington chicks can be feather sexed:
- As chicks, roosters feather more slowly and their primary and secondary wing feathers are shorter.
- Hens get round and neat feathers on their wings and tails earlier than pullets, and their wing feathers get longer. They also get lighter feathers over time.
How to Determine If Chicks are Male or Female
Identifying the sex of adult chickens can be fairly easy. But flock owners don’t always want to wait until a chicken is fully grown to find out if it is a rooster or a hen. This requires sexing chicks. Determining if a chick is a future hen or rooster is a little trickier, though. Luckily, there are four main methods that you can use to sex your baby chicks. Just keep in mind that even experts are only 90% accurate.
The Little Red Hen (US English accent) – TheFableCottage.com
FAQ
What is the difference between a hen and a rooster?
A rooster (also known as a cock) is a male chicken, while a hen is a female chicken. Roosters are typically larger than hens and have more vibrant, prominent plumage, including longer tail feathers and a larger comb and wattles.
How to tell if a chicken is a hen?
To determine if a chicken is a hen, focus on saddle and hackle feathers, comb and wattles, and tail feathers.
Are hens and chickens the same thing?
A chicken is a young bird that hasn’t reached full maturity yet. A male chicken grows into a rooster, while a female chicken grows into a laying hen. Jul 21, 2023.
Do chickens lay eggs or just hens?
Only female chickens lay eggs. That’s why newborn chicks are sorted according to whether they are male or female. This means that we look at what sex they are (known as sexing).