[Vickie & Richard]

Here is a question my 6 year old son came up with, are the girls called chickens or hens??  They have no boys to play with, if that helps.  So do we call them chickens or hens?? probably a really stupid question, but i didn't know wot to say to my boy!

[chickenlady]

I would say they were hens! I assumed that chickens were a sweeping term for both male and females of the species and you then have hens and cockerels!!

[richyrich7]

Pullets are a young hen under 18 months old , hens are over 18 months old, chicken I imagine is a collective term for all chickens  :?  
Sure the dates are right but some one may know better.

[GrannieAnnie]

I always thought it was a pullet until it starts to lay, then becoms a hen, but I'm no expert either!!!    

[richyrich7]

I always thought it was a pullet until it starts to lay, then becoms a hen, but I'm no expert either!!!    

Me definitely not,  do you call 'em pullets cause if they don't lay you..    

[chickenlady]

my boss who keeps hens said its a pullet for the its first year in lay! i thought it was untill they layed an eggie :?

[GrannieAnnie]

I always thought it was a pullet until it starts to lay, then becoms a hen, but I'm no expert either!!!    

Me definitely not,  do you call 'em pullets cause if they don't lay you..    

Richy, how could you?  naughty boy!!  One of our Goldlines at POL last August didn't lay, but she was still living with the other girls, then she started to lay in March this year.  Obviously a late starter, then there's Rosie one of our first Amberlinks who has never laid because she can't make up her mind if she's a she or a he!!!!!  She has the run of the garden!!!!

[doorman]

From the Concise Oxford Dictionary,

Chicken; Young bird esp. of domestic fowl.

Pullet; Young domestic fowl esp. hen from time she begins to lay till first moult.

Hen; Female bird, esp. of domestic fowl.

Hens; Domestic fowl of any sex.

[mumsy]

Richy was right, as they moult around 18 months old.............a gold star Rich, well done   See, you know more than you think

[richyrich7]

Richy was right, as they moult around 18 months old.............a gold star Rich, well done   See, you know more than you think

  thank you Mumsy