Common Poultry Terminology
Pullet? Layers? Broilers? If your head is spinning and need some guidance on what all these words mean, use our glossary of common poultry terminology to gain familiarity.
Glossary
Brooder
A heated/temperature-controlled house or space for chicks to be raised.
Broody Hen
An egg laying hen that sits on her eggs in hopes they will hatch.
Free Range
A technique for sustainable chicken farming that allows the flock to roam free outdoors and kept in natural conditions.
Fryer
A chicken bred for meat production. Common breeds include Cornish Cross and Orpington.
Layer Feed
A type of feed given to hens when they start laying eggs. This feed is formulated to give complete nutrition and promote healthy egg production.
Layer Hen
Full grown female chicken that is kept primarily for laying eggs.
Marek’s Disease
A common, transmissible viral disease that can result in death for poultry. Vaccinating day-old chicks help prevent this disease.
Meat Bird
A chicken bred for meat production. Common breeds include Cornish Cross and Orpington.
Organic Chicken
A chicken that has been kept to a strict organic diet and only been given antibiotics if absolutely necessary.
Rooster
A mature male chicken.
Started Pullet
An egg-laying chicken under the age of one. Generally, between 18 and 52 weeks old.
Starter Feed
Feed formulated for raising baby chicks from day one. It’s recommended to switch feed after 18 to 20 weeks of age for egg-laying hens to a layer feed.