Are you interested in keeping chickens? Perhaps you just want to know how to refer to the female sex of the bird. Either way, what do you call them? Well, here are the terms in which you can use.
So, what is a female chicken called? A female chicken is called a hen. Although, female chickens under the age of 1 year of age are often called pullets, or juveniles. Furthermore, a young female chicken, under the age of 1, and about to lay can be referred to as a point-of-lay pullet.
In fact, chickens have an entire glossary of different names.
Let us now take a look at a few below!
Names For Different Chicken Genders & Ages
- Bantam: a small variety of chicken/fowl,
- Boiler: A chicken that is between 6-9 months old.
- Broiler: A chicken raised for meat. They usually only reach 5-6 weeks old.
- Capon: A male chicken that is gelded, or castrated (neutered), at a young age to improve the flavor of its meat.
- Cock: A male chicken,
- Cockerel: A young rooster, under 1-year-old.
- Fryer: A chicken between 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 pounds 7 and 10 weeks old
- Rooster: A male chicken; also called a cock.
Related Questions
Boy chickens are called a cock or a rooster. Although, male chickens under the age of 1 are typically referred to as cockerels.
Chickens can be either male or female.
Baby chickens of either sex are called chicks or peeps.
An old female chicken is called a hen. Sometimes they are also called Broody’s.
Not all chickens are female. They can be both female and male, although most keepers generally keep females (and just hens exclusively).
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I am a practiced pet owner with decades of experience owning a number of different pets. I am also the main writer and chief editor here at Pet Educate; a site I created to share everything I’ve learned about pet ownership over the years and my extensive research along the way.