Cockerel or Rooster? Pullet or Hen? Terminology

[Frazzemrat1]

Lord knows, most of us that started off inexperienced looked at our little store bought chicks and wondered if they were a Rooster or a Hen. In reality, they were neither. At that stage, they were either a cockerel (ETA: I realized why I was getting the cock/cock-bird comments below, as I did put that in the wrong place. So.... Ignore this: or cock or cock-bird) or they were a pullet. Why weren't they roosters? or hens?

Webster's Dictionary online (https://www.merriam-webster.com/ ) defines the following:

Cockerel:
: a young male of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus)
Rooster:
a : an adult male domestic chicken
b : an adult male of various birds other than the domestic chicken
Pullet:
: a young hen; specifically : a hen of the domestic chicken less than a year old
Hen:
a : a female chicken especially over a year old; broadly : a female bird

Essentially, 'cockerel' and 'pullet' are the same as the human reference 'boy' and 'girl; while 'rooster' and 'hen' would be the same as 'man' and 'woman'.

Have a great day!!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Rooster is a newer term for a male chicken over a year old. Cock is the correct term for a male chicken over a year old.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Rooster is a newer term for a male chicken over a year old. Cock is the correct term for a male chicken over a year old.

I wouldn't go so far as to say 'newer'. The first record use of the word was in the 1700s.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I wouldn't go so far as to say 'newer'. The first record use of the word was in the 1700s.

Well nowadays most people refer to male chickens as roosters or roos vey rarely do people that I encounter call them cocks.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Well nowadays most people refer to male chickens as roosters or roos vey rarely do people that I encounter call them cocks.

Yea, Unless they're in South Carolina, I don't think most people think of a chicken...

 

[snow5164]

Now teach me about ducks ... all I know is I don’t want a drake

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Now teach me about ducks ... all I know is I don’t want a drake

as I don't have ducks, or geese, or turkeys... I can tell you about chickens! LOL

 

[HuskerHens18]

Yea, Unless they're in South Carolina, I don't think most people think of a chicken...

Yeah... when I hear that term even my mind doesn't quite go to "chicken"...
Useful thread by the way, thank you! Even I've messed up saying cockerel or rooster.

 

[BlackHackle]

An adult male chicken is a Cockbird
An adult female chicken is a Hen
A male chicken under one year is called a cockerel
A female chicken under one year is called a pullet

 

[PirateGirl]

Now teach me about ducks ... all I know is I don’t want a drake

Males and Females are all DUCKS
Adult males are DRAKES
Adult females are HENS
Baby ducks are DUCKLINGS

I'm not sure if there are sex specific names for males vs. females prior to maturity. Also I have heard adult females referred to simply as "ducks" but I'm not sure if this is correct, or regional, or what.