The domestic chicken, scientifically named Gallus gallus domesticus, is the world’s most common bird and a highly managed livestock species. This close relationship with humans has resulted in an extensive vocabulary used to describe the birds at various stages of their development, based on their sex, maturity, and specific purpose. The terminology moves beyond simple gender distinctions, creating specific names for different life phases. Understanding these terms provides clarity when discussing poultry management, breeding, and production.
The Primary Name for a Young Chicken
The most common term for a newly hatched chicken is a chick. This name is gender-neutral and applies to the bird until it is several weeks old, typically around six to eight weeks of age. A chick begins the process of hatching by using a small, temporary projection on its beak called an egg tooth to create the initial crack, a process known as pipping. During this initial stage, the young bird is covered in soft, downy feathers rather than the structured feathers of an adult. Another less frequent term sometimes used for these newly hatched birds is a “peep,” which refers to the distinct, high-pitched vocalization they make.
Terminology Based on Age and Gender
As a chick grows, its name changes to reflect its sex and level of reproductive maturity, with the one-year mark serving as the traditional dividing line. An immature female chicken under one year old is called a pullet. She may begin laying her first, smaller eggs as early as 16 to 22 weeks of age, but she retains this designation until her first birthday. The male equivalent is a cockerel, an immature male under one year old. Cockerels begin to exhibit male characteristics like larger combs and wattles, as well as crowing attempts, well before they reach their formal adult age.
Once a female chicken reaches one year of age, she is formally classified as a hen. Hens are mature females that are fully capable of regular egg production. The mature male, over one year of age, is known as a rooster in North America, or sometimes a “cock.” Roosters are fully mature, capable of breeding, and typically display prominent physical traits, such as large tail sickles and aggressive territorial behavior. While sexual maturity is often reached around five to seven months, the one-year mark remains the standard for the formal name change.
Names for Groups and Specific Purposes
The most common term for a group of chickens is a flock. This term is used broadly for any collection of chickens living together. A more specific term, brood, refers to a group of chicks being raised together, often with a mother hen or in a confined, heated space known as a brooder.
Chickens are also classified by their primary function in the agricultural industry. A chicken bred for consistent egg production is known as a layer. These birds are typically from breeds selected for high egg yields. Conversely, a chicken raised for meat production is called a broiler. Broilers are distinct because they are from breeds that grow very rapidly, often reaching market weight in a short period, sometimes as quickly as four to eight weeks.