by Kim Berg, CoopCrate staff writer
When reading up on chickens and chicken care, you may come across terms you have never heard before. An educated chicken owner is a great chicken owner! Here are some words that you should definitely know if you have your own flock.
Bantam – These are smaller sized chickens. Some chicken breeds are available in both a standard and bantam varieties, while others are considered only bantams.
Beard – This refers to the feathers under a chicken’s chin. Americanas are a prime example!
Bloom – This is a natural coating on an egg that seals the pores on the eggshell. Eggs with blooms will often stay fresher, longer! Your personal flock will lay eggs with blooms, while store-bought eggs will not have them.
Broiler – These are heftier chickens that are bred for meat production.
Broody – This is a momma hen that is trying to hatch her eggs! She spends most of her time in the nest box protecting her eggs. When a hen is broody, she may growl and peck at you when you try to move her or her eggs.
Cape – Long feathers that grow between a chicken’s neck and back.
Cockerel – A young, male chicken that is under one year old.
Cock – A male chicken that is older than one year of age.
Comb – The fleshy red skin on the top of a chicken’s head. Typically, a rooster will have a larger comb than a hen. The appearance of a comb will vary depending on the breed of the chicken.
Crest – Feathers that protrude from the top of a chicken’s head.
Down – These are the small, fluffy feathers that chicks are born with. Down will usually be replaced with adult feathers as a chicken ages, though many chickens have a layer of it closest to their skin.
Egg tooth – This is a small hook that a chick uses to break out of its shell when hatching. As a chicken gets older, the egg tooth will disappear.
Grit – This is an essential part of a chicken’s diet, as it helps them to fully digest their feed. Oyster shells, egg shells, pebbles, and other organic matter are great sources of grit!
Hen – A female chicken that is older than one year of age.
Layer – Chickens bred for the purpose of laying eggs.
Molting – This is a chicken’s process of losing their feathers and replacing them over time. In adult birds, molting occurs annually. A chicken will then produce fresh feathers to keep them warm during the winter months. To read more about molting, click here.
Muff – Muffs are clusters of feathers that grow away from the chicken’s face. They travel below and around the sides of the eyes, extending from the beard and covering the lobes. Chickens can have both beards and muffs!
Pipping – When a chick starts the process of breaking through an egg while hatching.
Pullet – A young female chicken that is under one year old.
Saddle – The feathers at the end of a chicken’s back, near their tail.
Scratch – A feed consisting of unfortified grains, including corn.
Sickle – The pair of long, curving feathers on a cock’s tail.
Vent – An opening under the tail of the chicken, where excrement and eggs pass through.
Wattles – Flaps of skin under the chicken’s beak. Roosters have larger wattles than hens.
