Chicken Terms
bantam- miniature chicken about 1/4-1/2 the size of a full size
banty- multiple bantams
rooster-male also known as a cock
laying hen- a hen laying usually starts around 18-20weeks of age
pullet- female chicken under one year old
chick- a baby chicken in a brooder usually up to 8 weeks of age
comb-crown at top of head
rose- lower to head and more spread lest susceptible to frost bite
standard - narrow and taller easy to get frost bite
crop- pouch at the base of the neck that bulges when birds eat
broiler- young, tender meat chicken can be called Fryer
broody- to care for a batch of chicks
candler- a light used to check eggs to see if they are fertile
clutch- a batch of eggs hatched together
cockerel- a male less than one year old
coop- the chickens house
cull- to kill a non-productive or inferior chicken
dam-mother
fertile-capable of producing a chick
flock- a group of chickens living together
gizzard- organ that contains grit to digest food
grit- sand and pebbles eaten to help digest food
free range- allow chickens to roam yards or pastures
HEN- a mature female chicken
incubation period- time to hatch chicks usually 18-21 days
molt- lose feathers for new ones
nest- secluded place where hens feel safe to leave their eggs
nest egg- a fake egg to encourage laying there wood or plastic
nest run- ungraded eggs
pasting- loose droopings sticking to vent and life threatning
perch- also known as a roost, a place where chickens spend the night
roaster- a cockerel or pullet weighing arond 4-6lbs
sire- father
spent- no longer laying
vent- where eggs are emitted