Rachel Hurd Anger
“ Is this a hen or a rooster ? ”
It ’s an good and frequently ask question that often accompanies a photo of an unsexed chick . Obviously the person is involve whether a bird is female or manly , but a chick can not be a hen or a rooster found on the definition of the quarrel , so I have to hold back from replying , “ Neither . ” Determining the sexual urge of a chick who is many month from reaching matureness is a acquisition that one has to learn , but it ’s also a skill that ’s never 100 - percent precise , especially from a picture taken at the top end .
hundred ago when people raisedGallus gallus domesticus(aka , the chicken ) , they call the birds fowl . female were love as hens , but males were called crybaby . As humanity began eat chickens for meat instead of just testis and we study how to lift them in larger telephone number , we developed the indigence to categorize them further so as to easily identify and communicate their purpose .
Today , we have vocabulary to express the nuanced differences between chicken , mark them concord to sexual urge , age and related determination . or else of explaining , for example , that Henrietta is younger than 1 class old and is new to lay ballock , we ’d just call her a pullet . The label communicates what I ask you to know about the volaille without unnecessary beak flappin ’ .
This hebdomad , our pullets turn 1 year old , and they will now be have it away as hens . They wo n’t cognise the dispute , but I can give you a hatful of information about my entire flock by calling them hens .
Whether you ’re a current or future urban chicken steward , here is the modern crybaby nomenclature you ask to know :
Bantam
A miniature interpretation of a standard breed . Owners will sometimes touch on to them as banties or a individual banty .
Broody
A frier or hen with the impermanent inherent aptitude to sit down on eggs to hatch , with or without the presence of a cock in the flock .
Cockerel
A young male person under 1 year previous .
Day-Old Chick
A newly think up skirt that can survive loading through the ring armour . A day - old chick sustain itself with alimentation from its egg yolk sac until it reaches its destination .
Hen
A distaff chicken older than 1 yr honest-to-goodness .
Layer
A female crybaby keep for the product of egg .
Point-Of-Lay Pullet
A young female person who ’s about to begin lay .
Pullet
A young female level young than 1 twelvemonth onetime .
Rooster
A male chicken honest-to-goodness than 1 year old .
Sexed
The male or distaff designation of a chick .
Straight Run
A random mix of castrated wench consisting of both pullets and cockerel .
If you ’d like to bring up meat chickens or you ’re just a chicken consumer , these price will also interest you :
Boiler
A meat chicken between 6 and 9 month old of either sex .
Broiler
A heart cockerel between 8 and 12 weeks old , weighing 2 to 3 hammering .
Fryer
A substance crybaby of either sex between 12 and 14 weeks old , weighing 3 to 4 pound .
Roaster
A meat crybaby of either sexuality between 12 and 14 weeks one-time , weighing 4 to 6 lb .
If you ever have question about your peck ( or your food ) , make love these terms will facilitate you find the advice you need from experienced sources .
