My Hubby and one of his West Harlequin hens.

[Oregon Blues]

BYC is the only place I've seen female ducks called "hens". I find it rather confusing, thinking that people are talking about chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

BYC is the only place I've seen female ducks called "hens". I find it rather confusing, thinking that people are talking about chickens.

Maybe it has something to do with alot of us have chickens, turkeys and we just associate females as hens? I usually just say ducks and drakes I think, gosh I may have referred to them as hens too.

 

[Apyl]

Very cute. They both look very happy.

And yes Female ducks are called ducks and hens. Anyone who believes answers found on Wikipedia to be 100% truthfull needs to do some more research or look in an encyclopedia. Wikipedia does not filter the articles or answers submitted on their sites. Any uneducated person can post answers, comments, or articles. This is the main reason schools, universities, and reputable reference sources will not allow wikipedia and a source of information.

hen

 [hen] Show IPA
noun
1.
the female of the domestic fowl. (domestic fowl meaning : chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, ect -- birds intended for consumption)
2.
the female of any bird, especially of a gallinaceous bird.
3.
Informal: Often Disparaging and Offensive . a woman, especially a busybody or gossip.

courtesy of dictionary.com and thefreedictionary.com

 

[jak2002003]

And yes Female ducks are called ducks and hens. Anyone who believes answers found on Wikipedia to be 100% truthfull needs to do some more research or look in an encyclopedia. Wikipedia does not filter the articles or answers submitted on their sites. Any uneducated person can post answers, comments, or articles. This is the main reason schools, universities, and reputable reference sources will not allow wikipedia and a source of information.

hen

 [hen] Show IPA
noun
1.
the female of the domestic fowl. (domestic fowl meaning : chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, ect -- birds intended for consumption)

2.
the female of any bird, especially of a gallinaceous bird.
3.
Informal: Often Disparaging and Offensive . a woman, especially a busybody or gossip.

courtesy of dictionary.com and thefreedictionary.com

hen   [hen] Show IPA
noun
1.
the female of the domestic fowl.
2.
the female of any bird, especially of a gallinaceous bird.
3.
Informal: Often Disparaging and Offensive . a woman, especially a busybody or gossip.

I note that the dictionary you used is based on American English. I see the confusion now. I am English and I can tell you that I have never heard anyone in the UK refer to female ducks as hens. Perhaps in America its different. Like colour and color.

Also we always call make chickens 'Cockerels' and never use the term 'Rooster'. Language can be confusing!

How knows, I might start calling my hens 'ducks' from now on.

 

[Nsampsel]

hen   [hen] Show IPA
noun
1.
the female of the domestic fowl.
2.
the female of any bird, especially of a gallinaceous bird.
3.
Informal: Often Disparaging and Offensive . a woman, especially a busybody or gossip.

I note that the dictionary you used is based on American English. I see the confusion now. I am English and I can tell you that I have never heard anyone in the UK refer to female ducks as hens. Perhaps in America its different. Like colour and color.

Also we always call make chickens 'Cockerels' and never use the term 'Rooster'. Language can be confusing!

How knows, I might start calling my hens 'ducks' from now on.

It's all a matter of GEOGRAPHY. Even within the US people call the same thing by different names.
For example:
Names for "carbonated cola beverages"- pop, soda, "coke"(even if it's a Pepsi or other brand)
Names for the wheeled basket used in grocery stores- cart, buggy, basket
Names for an 18 wheeled vehicle pulling a trailer- semi, rig, MAC, truck, truck & trailer
And the list goes on & on

We all just need to realize that some of us call things by different names & none of them are "wrong", just different based on where we are from

 

[Miss Lydia]

YEP!

 

[Mum]

Great pic!!! Looks like they enjoy each others company!

Where is the 'hen'? I only see your husband and a duck!

Drakes and Ducks = ducklings

Roosters (cockerels) and Hens = chicks

Always remember: "a rose, by any other name, still smells as sweet"

(and I say that from one Brit to another

)

One more old adage for you: UK vs USA "two nations, divided by a common language" (at times, so true!

)

Please do not start calling your hens "ducks" ... the poor things will stop laying due to the stress of it all!

(but that was funny too

)