So you just got your first batch of adorable baby chicks. As you watch them peck and chirp around the brooder, you can’t help but wonder – what exactly do you call them? Baby chickens go by many different names depending on their age and sex. Read on for a guide to the key terms for young chickens.
Chick
The most universal term for a newly hatched chicken is simply “chick.” This word can refer to any baby chicken from the moment it hatches until it develops its first real feathers, which occurs around 3-6 weeks of age.
Chicks are covered in soft down feathers and are unable to regulate their own body temperature when they first hatch. That’s why they need supplemental heat, like from a brooder lamp. The chick stage lasts until they become feathered out and no longer require artificial warming.
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.
During this juvenile stage, pullets eat grower feed until they reach 16-20 weeks old At that point, you transition them to layer feed to support egg production. The time when pullets begin laying eggs is called 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?
After 12 months of age, your lay chickens who have been referred to as pullets, are now called hens. 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.
Occasionally, you will hear an older hen (usually once egg production starts to slow down) referred to as 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?
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chick | Newly Hatched Chicken |
| Cockerel | Male that is under a year old |
| Pullet | Female that is under a year old |
| Juvenile | A 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.