A mature female chicken is called a hen. The term applies once a female chicken has reached sexual maturity and begun laying eggs, which typically happens between 16 and 24 weeks of age depending on the breed. Before that point, a young female chicken goes by a different name: pullet.
Hen vs. Pullet: Where the Line Falls
A pullet is any female chicken under about one year of age that has not yet started laying eggs. Once she reaches “point of lay,” the age at which her breed typically produces its first egg, she transitions into hen territory. For most backyard and commercial breeds, that window falls between 16 and 24 weeks (roughly four to six months old).
The shift from pullet to hen isn’t just a naming convention. It reflects real physical changes driven by hormones. As a female chicken approaches maturity, her comb and wattles enlarge and turn a deeper red. The spacing between her pin bones (the two small bones near her tail) widens as her reproductive organs develop. Fat reserves become visible starting around 16 weeks, building steadily until she’s ready to lay. When these signs appear uniformly across a flock, the birds tend to start laying around the same time.
Other Terms You Might Hear
The poultry world has a surprisingly specific vocabulary for female chickens at different life stages:
- Chick: A newly hatched chicken of either sex, from hatch through about 5 to 6 weeks.
- Pullet: A young female from the time her sex can be identified (as early as 7 weeks in some breeds) until she begins laying.
- Point-of-lay hen: A pullet that is close to or just reaching the age her breed typically starts producing eggs.
- Hen: An adult female that has laid eggs.
- Layer: A hen actively producing eggs, often used in commercial settings.
- Broody hen: A hen that has stopped laying and is sitting on a clutch of eggs to incubate them. Broody hens are easy to spot: they sit tightly on the nest, puff up their feathers, make a distinctive clucking sound, and peck at anyone who tries to reach under them. They even pluck feathers from their own chest to cover the eggs.
- Spent hen: A commercial layer whose egg production has dropped significantly, usually after about 72 weeks (roughly 18 months) on a laying farm.
How a Female Chicken Reaches Maturity
A chicken’s life breaks into three broad growth phases. The starter phase covers hatching through about 5 to 6 weeks, when chicks need supplemental heat and high-protein feed. The grower phase runs from around 7 weeks to 18 weeks. This is when sexual differences become visible: pullets develop smaller, more rounded combs and shorter hackle feathers compared to cockerels, which start showing longer, pointed feathers on the neck and saddle area. Pullets also lack spurs in most breeds.
The layer phase begins when egg production starts. A hen in her first laying cycle is at peak productivity, often producing an egg nearly every day. After about a year of steady laying, production drops to roughly 65% of its peak and egg quality declines. Commercial operations typically keep hens for a single laying cycle of 12 to 18 months before replacing them, though backyard hens can continue producing eggs at a lower rate for several years.
Why the Distinction Matters
If you’re buying chickens for a backyard flock, the pullet-versus-hen distinction directly affects what you’re getting. Pullets are cheaper but won’t produce eggs right away, and you’ll need to feed them through the grower phase before seeing any return. Point-of-lay hens cost more but start producing almost immediately. Mature hens from a previous laying season may be affordable, though their output will be lower than a first-year layer’s.
The terminology also matters at the feed store. Starter feed, grower feed, and layer feed are formulated differently, with layer feed containing extra calcium to support eggshell production. Feeding layer-formula feed to pullets too early can stress their developing kidneys, so knowing which stage your birds are in helps you pick the right bag.