If you’re standing in a field looking at a bunch of feathery, clucking birds, you might wonder what to call them. Most people just say "the chickens." That’s fine. It works. But if you want to be technically correct or win a trivia night, the answer depends on how many there are and what they’re doing.
What is a group of hens called? Well, the most common term is a brood.
But wait. There’s a catch. Traditionally, a "brood" refers specifically to a mother hen and her chicks. If you’re talking about a general group of adult birds, you’re looking at a flock. Simple, right? Not really. The terminology for poultry is surprisingly deep and rooted in centuries of farming history.
Why We Have So Many Names for the Same Birds
English loves weird collective nouns. We have a "murder" of crows and a "parliament" of owls, mostly thanks to the Book of Saint Albans from 1486. When it comes to the backyard coop, the terms are more functional than poetic.
A flock is the standard. It’s the catch-all. Whether you have three hens or three hundred, they are a flock. Farmers use this word because it describes the social unit. Chickens are intensely social creatures. They have a hierarchy—the literal "pecking order"—and they function as a single, cohesive group for protection and foraging.
But if you want to get fancy, or if you’re talking about specific situations, you might hear the term peep. Honestly, "peep" is usually reserved for the tiny, fluffy chicks, but some old-school rural dialects use it for a small group of young hens just starting to lay.
Then there’s the clutch. This isn't the group of birds running around; it’s the group of eggs a hen sits on. If those eggs hatch, they become a brood.
The Nuance of the Brood
When a hen goes "broody," her entire biology changes. She stops laying. Her body temperature rises. She stays on the nest. When those eggs hatch, she becomes the protector of a brood.
The bond between a mother hen and her brood is intense. She teaches them what is food and what is a predator. You’ll see her "tidbitting"—dropping food and making a specific high-pitched cluck to call them over. This specific social dynamic is why the word "brood" is so historically tied to hens, even though we now use it metaphorically for human families too.
The Pecking Order: More Than Just a Phrase
You can't talk about a flock without talking about how they interact. It’s brutal. It’s efficient. It’s the pecking order.
The term was actually coined by Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe, a Norwegian zoologist, back in the 1920s. He noticed that in any group of hens, there is one dominant bird who can peck any other bird without being pecked back. Then there’s a second-in-command, and so on, down to the poor bird at the bottom who gets picked on by everyone.
This hierarchy is essential for the flock's survival. Once the order is established, the fighting stops. Everyone knows their place. If you add new hens to a group, the "flock" temporarily becomes a chaotic mess of flapping wings and squawks until the new order is settled. This is why experienced keepers use a "look but don't touch" method when introducing new birds. They put the newcomers in a separate cage within the run so the existing flock can see them without attacking them.
When a Flock Becomes a "Cark" or "Scurry"
You might stumble across some obscure blogs claiming a group of hens is called a "cark" or a "scurry."
Let’s be real: no one actually says that.
While some "Terms of Venery" (those fancy collective nouns) are fun to read in old books, they aren't used in modern poultry science or actual farming. If you walk into a feed store and talk about your "cark of hens," people will look at you like you have two heads. Stick with flock for the adults and brood for the mom-and-baby combo.
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Factors That Change the Name
The size of the group matters.
- A Pair: Just two. Usually, people keeping "backyard chickens" in cities start with a pair or a trio.
- A Trio: One rooster and two hens. This is a common breeding unit.
- The Flock: Anything from four birds to thousands.
- The Battery: This is a darker term. It refers to thousands of hens kept in "battery cages" for industrial egg production. It’s a technical term, but it carries a lot of weight regarding animal welfare.
Most hobbyists today prefer "flock" because it implies a natural, free-roaming group. There's something peaceful about watching a flock of Rhode Island Reds or Orpingtons scratching through the dirt. It’s meditative.
The Role of the Rooster in the Flock
While the question is "what is a group of hens called," the presence of a rooster changes the dynamic of that group significantly.
In a group of only hens, one hen will often take on the "alpha" role. She might even start crowing—badly. But when a rooster is present, he is the undisputed head of the flock. He doesn't just mate; he’s a bodyguard. He finds food and gives it to the hens. He scans the sky for hawks.
In some circles, a group of chickens with a rooster is called a building, though this is an incredibly rare, archaic term. Most people just call it a "breeding pen" or, again, a flock.
Practical Advice for Managing Your Own Flock
If you’re looking up these terms because you’re thinking about getting birds, knowing the names is the easy part. Managing the social structure is where it gets tricky.
Hens are creatures of habit. They thrive on routine. If you want a healthy flock, you need to provide enough space to prevent the pecking order from becoming violent. The rule of thumb is usually 4 square feet of coop space and 10 square feet of run space per bird.
Watch for the "bully." Sometimes a hen takes her dominant status too far. If you see one bird drawing blood or preventing others from eating, she needs a "timeout." Removing the dominant hen for a few days can sometimes reset the pecking order. When she returns, she’s the "new girl" and has to work her way back up, which usually humbles her.
Dietary needs vary by group.
A brood of chicks needs high-protein "starter" feed. A flock of laying hens needs "layer crumbles" with extra calcium for their eggshells. Don't mix them up. Too much calcium can damage a chick's kidneys, and not enough will lead to soft-shelled eggs in your hens.
Summary of Terms
To keep it straight, here is the breakdown of what you should call your birds depending on the context:
- Flock: The standard, everyday term for any group of hens.
- Brood: A mother hen and her specific set of chicks.
- Clutch: The eggs before they hatch.
- Peep: A cute, informal name for a group of chicks or very young pullets.
- Trio: Specifically one male and two females.
Next Steps for Future Chicken Keepers
If you're ready to move beyond just knowing the names and want to actually start your own flock, your first step isn't buying the birds. It's checking your local zoning laws. Many cities allow hens but strictly forbid roosters because of the noise.
Once you know you're legal, go to a site like BackyardChickens.com or talk to your local 4-H club. They are the gold standard for real-world poultry advice. Start small. A flock of three to five hens is perfect for a family. You’ll get plenty of eggs, and you’ll get to witness the fascinating social dynamics of the pecking order firsthand.
Understand that chickens are a 5-to-10-year commitment. They aren't just egg machines; they are living things with distinct personalities. Some will be friendly and jump in your lap; others will be aloof. But regardless of their temperaments, they will always be your flock.
Build your coop before you buy your birds. It sounds obvious, but people get "chick fever" every spring and buy a box of peeps without having a place to put them once they grow out of their brooder box. Plan ahead, give them space, and your flock will be the healthiest, happiest group of hens in the neighborhood.