Can I call my girls hens yet?

[Southern28Chick]

My girls were born April 30th. Can I call them hens now or are they still pullets? That has always confused me.

 

[Katy]

Somewhere the other day I read that they're not a hen until they're a year old. Can't remember where I read it. I guess I've always referred to mine as hens once they have been laying a while.

 

[2mnypets]

I was always under the impression that a pullet became a hen once they went through their first molt and were a steady layer. I don't know where I read that though.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Not until their hatch day. They are considered pullets until one year of age.

 

[broncbuster07]

Angie is correct! http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=pullet

 

[paganfish]

...so when is a hen considered a biddy then?

...and does the same 1 year rule apply to cockerels?

What would an old roo be called? Just a roo I suppose...just curious!

 

[Blisschick]

Biddy is the same as banty or bantam. It just means a small hen.

Yes, the same rule applies to cockerels. They're not a roo until 1 year.

 

[speckledhen]

The 1 yr rule applies to cockerels as well. I never use the term biddy myself, but I've heard it used for hens, pullets and chicks, too. Not sure about that one.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I've heard old hens be called "old biddys" and baby chicks called "biddys" too.

 

[paganfish]

Quote:
Oh! Okay...thanks Blisschick, Speckledhen and Southern28Chick. I guess, I was just wondering where that term would be appropriate...if at all! LOL!

Peace-

~:-V

PS SEE! I am already in trouble! I want to be PC with my birds!