You're standing in a feed store or maybe scrolling through a local farm's Facebook page. You see the word chicken. Then you see hen. Then you see "pullet," "cockerel," and maybe "stewing fowl." It’s confusing. Honestly, most people use these words interchangeably, but if you’re looking to start a backyard coop or just want to stop sounding like a total "city slicker" at the farmers market, knowing the difference between a chicken and a hen is actually pretty important.
Basically, a chicken is the species. A hen is a specific job title within that species.
Think of it like this: "Human" is the species, and "Woman" is the adult female. You wouldn't call a five-year-old girl a woman, right? Same logic applies to the birds. Every single hen you have ever seen is a chicken, but a huge percentage of the chickens in the world are definitely not hens.
The basic breakdown of the chicken vs hen mystery
Let’s get the taxonomy out of the way first. The scientific name for these birds is Gallus gallus domesticus. In common English, we just say chicken. This term is gender-neutral and age-neutral. It covers the fluffy yellow chicks, the loud roosters waking up the neighbors, and the productive ladies laying your breakfast.
A hen, specifically, is a female chicken that has reached sexual maturity.
When does that happen? Usually around 16 to 24 weeks of age. Some breeds, like the prolific Leghorn, might start acting like a hen a bit earlier. Others, especially the heavy "heritage" breeds like Orpingtons or Brahmas, take their sweet time. Until she hits that milestone, she’s actually called a pullet.
I’ve seen people buy "hens" at a swap meet only to realize they bought twelve-week-old pullets that won't give them an egg for another two months. It’s a common mix-up. If you want eggs today, you need a hen. If you’re okay waiting and want to save a few bucks, you buy pullets.
Why the terminology actually matters for your wallet
If you go to a hatchery website like Murray McMurray or Meyer Hatchery, you’ll see different prices for different labels. This isn't just semantics; it's about what you’re getting for your money.
- Straight Run Chickens: These are "as hatched." You’re getting a 50/50 gamble. You might get ten hens, or you might get ten roosters. It's the cheapest way to buy chickens, but it's a massive risk if you live in a suburb where roosters are illegal.
- Sexed Chicks: These are babies that have been sorted by professionals (often using a method called vent sexing). You pay a premium to ensure you’re getting females.
- Started Pullets: These are "teenager" chickens. They are more expensive because the farmer has already paid for the feed and vaccinations for the first 15–20 weeks.
- Hens: Usually, when you see "hens" for sale, they are "point of lay" or older.
In the poultry industry, specifically the commercial egg-laying sector, the distinction is even more brutal. A "spent hen" is a bird that has passed her peak laying years (usually around two years old). She’s still a chicken, but her value as a "hen" has dropped to almost zero in the eyes of big business.
The Rooster in the room
We can't talk about the difference between a chicken and a hen without mentioning the males. A male chicken is a rooster (or a "cock" if you’re being formal). Just like the female has a "teenager" phase (the pullet), the male has one too: the cockerel.
A lot of new keepers struggle to tell the difference between a pullet and a cockerel before they reach maturity. It’s a guessing game of looking at comb size, wattle redness, and those pointy "hackle" feathers on the neck. But once that first egg drops? Boom. She’s officially a hen. Once that first (usually terrible-sounding) crow happens? He’s a rooster.
👉 See also: National Ice Cream Day Deals: What You Actually Need to Know to Get Free Scoops
Beyond the backyard: The culinary confusion
Ever notice how you never see "Hen Parmesan" on a menu? It's always "Chicken."
In the grocery store, the birds you buy are almost always "broilers" or "fryers." These are young chickens, usually only 6 to 8 weeks old. At that age, they haven't reached maturity, so they aren't technically hens or roosters yet. They are just "chickens." They are bred to grow incredibly fast so their meat stays tender.
If you ever find a bird labeled as a "stewing hen" or "fowl" in the back of a butcher's freezer, be careful. That’s a bird that actually lived long enough to be a hen. Her meat will be tough and stringy because she spent a year or two walking around and laying eggs. You can't just grill a hen; you have to braise it for hours. But man, the flavor? It makes the best chicken soup you’ve ever had in your life. The older the bird, the richer the fat and the deeper the "chicken" taste.
Physical traits that define a hen
If you're looking at a flock and trying to spot the hens versus the younger pullets or the males, look for these specific "hen" vibes:
- The Pelvic Bones: Serious poultry judges actually stick their fingers back there. A hen that is currently laying will have pelvic bones that are spaced wide apart (about two or three fingers wide) to let the egg pass. A pullet or a non-laying chicken will be tight.
- The Comb and Wattles: In a mature hen, these are usually bright red and plump. If she's molting or taking a break from laying, they might shrink and turn a pale pink.
- The Vent: It sounds gross, but the vent (where the egg comes out) changes. In a hen, it’s large, moist, and oval-shaped. In a young chicken, it’s small, round, and dry.
The social hierarchy of the "Hen House"
The term "pecking order" isn't just a metaphor. It’s a very real, sometimes violent reality of hen life. When a group of chickens grows up together, they spend weeks testing each other. They spar. They peck. They chase.
Eventually, they establish a hierarchy. The "top hen" gets the best spot on the roost and the first crack at the mealworms. The lower-status chickens have to wait their turn. Interestingly, if you have a rooster, he usually stays outside this specific female hierarchy, acting more like a bodyguard than a boss.
Common myths about hens and chickens
Let's kill a few myths while we're at it.
You do NOT need a rooster for a hen to lay eggs. This is probably the number one question farmers get. A hen's body is on a cycle. She will drop an egg roughly every 25 hours regardless of whether there is a male around. The only difference is that without a rooster, that egg will never hatch into a chick. It’s just an unfertilized egg.
Another one? "Chickens are vegetarians." Absolutely not. Chickens are tiny dinosaurs. If a hen finds a lizard, a mouse, or a juicy grasshopper, she will hunt it down and eat it with zero mercy. In fact, a hen needs a lot of protein to keep up with the demands of egg production.
Actionable steps for the aspiring owner
If you’re moving past the "what is the difference" phase and actually want to get some birds, here is how you should handle it:
- Check local ordinances first. Many cities allow "chickens" but specifically ban "roosters." This means you can only keep hens.
- Buy "sexed" chicks from a reputable hatchery. Even the pros get it wrong about 5-10% of the time, but it’s better than a straight run.
- Look for "Point of Lay" pullets. If you want the fastest route to eggs without the brooding heat lamps and the messy chick phase, search for people selling 16-20 week old birds. They are technically still pullets, but they’ll be hens within a month.
- Plan for the "Spent Hen" phase. Remember that a hen only lays heavily for about 2-3 years. She can live for 8-10 years. You need to decide now if you’re going to keep her as a pet when she "retires" or if you're going to use her for that legendary soup we talked about.
Understanding the distinction is really just the entry point into a much larger world of poultry management. Whether you call them chickens, hens, or your "feathered friends," the most important thing is providing them with high-calcium feed (for the hens!), plenty of space to scratch, and a secure coop that keeps the predators out.
Now you know. A chicken is the bird; a hen is the lady with the eggs. Simple as that.
Next Steps for You:
Check your local zoning laws to see if "female chickens" are specifically mentioned, then look up "heritage breeds" vs "production hybrids" to decide which type of hen fits your climate and egg needs.