Chook Terminology

OK, so you may have thought about chooks and thought you would talk to somebody who knows about chooks. This is a good idea, to get as much information as possible, the only problem is that they think you know what they are talking about!

Here are a few translations to help you on your way:

Day-old
Technically a one day old chicken, but more generally a very young chick.

Pullet
A young female chicken from day-old to 15 months.

Fowl
Another term for chickens/chiooks/poultry that breeders like to use.

Point-of-lay (POL)
The age when a pullet is ready to start laying eggs, generally from around 21 weeks of age.

Moult
When a pullet drops her feathers, around autumn. Don't be alarmed, it is normal for your chook to stop laying during the moult.

Hen
A pullet after her first moult. A hen's eggs will be larger than her pullet eggs.

Broody
When a hen stops laying and wants to sit on her eggs to incubate them. She may not be sitting on any eggs, but will be in a state of mind to sit regardless. Should you want to put some fertile eggs under her she will happily sit on them and be their foster mother!

Cockeral
A young male chicken from day-old to 12 months, before he graduates into a Cock Bird/Rooster.

Fancier
A dedicated chook loving/breeding/showing type person.

 Now you can chat with confidence to the next fancier you meet and talk the talk!