Oscar De La Huerte answered
The term 'chicken' is used to describe the species of bird scientifically known as Gallus gallus domesticus.
The term 'hen' refers specifically to female chickens that are over one year old.
The difference between a chicken and a hen
There are a number of terms used to describe the world's favorite source of meat and eggs, and chicken is one that is used to refer to the species as a whole.
Originally, the word chicken actually denoted what we now call a 'chick' or baby chicken, with the species itself called 'fowl' or 'domestic fowl'.
A female chicken that is over 12 months old as what we nowadays refer to as a hen.
The terminology of chickens
The terminology used to describe chickens varies from country to country. In the United States for example, an adult male chicken is known as a 'rooster', whilst citizens of the UK refer to male chickens as 'cocks'.
Whilst we've established that adult female chickens are called hens, younger females are known as pullets. Babies of both sex are known as chicks, and a castrated male is known as a 'capon'.
Colloquialisms for the word 'chicken' include the use of 'yardbird' in Southern states like Tennessee and Texas, whilst people in the UK and Australia occasionally use the word 'chook'.
The term 'hen' refers specifically to female chickens that are over one year old.
The difference between a chicken and a hen
There are a number of terms used to describe the world's favorite source of meat and eggs, and chicken is one that is used to refer to the species as a whole.
Originally, the word chicken actually denoted what we now call a 'chick' or baby chicken, with the species itself called 'fowl' or 'domestic fowl'.
A female chicken that is over 12 months old as what we nowadays refer to as a hen.
The terminology of chickens
The terminology used to describe chickens varies from country to country. In the United States for example, an adult male chicken is known as a 'rooster', whilst citizens of the UK refer to male chickens as 'cocks'.
Whilst we've established that adult female chickens are called hens, younger females are known as pullets. Babies of both sex are known as chicks, and a castrated male is known as a 'capon'.
Colloquialisms for the word 'chicken' include the use of 'yardbird' in Southern states like Tennessee and Texas, whilst people in the UK and Australia occasionally use the word 'chook'.
