Chickens

Fowl Language

Image:  Tracy Few/Living By Faith Homestead

When I first started researching the possibility of having my own homestead over two years ago, the first animal I knew I wanted was that of chickens.  I was born and raised a city girl, and throughout my entire life chickens have been the most exciting farm animal my grandparents had.   I have spent many a night over these past two years, reading anything and everything I can about being a chicken owner.  What I found out from the beginning is that if I were going to have chickens, and learn all I needed to know about them, I would first need to get a better grasp on the terminology used when referencing them.

           

Image:  Tracy Few/Living By Faith Homestead

Not knowing many of the more popular terms, although I had heard them all my life without actually knowing the specific reason, made me think that there may be others out there that were just as in the dark as I was.  That led me to the idea of putting the more specific and well-used terms into one place, for easy reference for both myself and anyone else who may see the need to know.  With that said, a few common terms that I have found that I, myself, as a chicken owner, really need to know:

Bantam—a miniature version of a larger chicken breed 

Biddy—a term used for chicks or baby chickens

Broiler—a young chicken, usually processed between the age of 7-12 weeks.

Brooder Box—some type of heated enclosure used in the raising of baby chicks or other poultry.

Broody Hen—a hen that is determined to sit on and hat her clutch of eggs

Brooding Period—the timeframe between when a chick is hatched and when it is fully-feathered.

Chick—a young bird, especially one newly hatched.

Clutch—a group of eggs laid by a hen over several days.

Cock—a male bird, usually a rooster, generally more than one-year-old.

Cockerel—a young rooster, usually less than one-year-old.

Coop—a cage or pen used to confine poultry.

Dusting/Dust Bath—usually consisting of dirt or sand; used by fowl to roll around in for dusting and cleaning their feathers.

Hen—a mature female chicken at least one year of age.

Layers—mature female chickens that are of egg production age.

Molt—the season when old feathers are shed, and new feathers take their place.

Pullets—this is a young hen, not of laying age, and most usually less than one year old. 

Sexing--when baby chicks are separated according to their gender.   

Image:  Tracy Few/Living By Faith Homestead

This list is in no way all the terminology out there that references chickens, but it is a good start for learning the lingo.  Like with any new endeavor, the more you know, the more you are prepared.  There is an old saying that states "happy chicks lay more eggs."  Well, I am working to make sure my girls are indeed happy little chicks.