Have you ever wondered: 

Albumen: What we know as the “egg white”; containing more than half of the egg’s protein. Albumen thins out and spreads as it ages- so an older egg when cracked into a pan will spread while a fresh egg will hold together. Additionally, its transparency changes with age- becoming more transparent the older it gets.

Alektrophobia: The fear of chickens.
Ameraucana: A blue egg-laying breed often mistaken as an Araucana, but does not meet the breed requirements of a true Araucana. See Araucana.
Araucana: A rare heritage breed that is both tufted and rumpless and lays beautiful blue eggs. See my breed focus post clarifying the differences between a true Araucana and some of the breeds mistaken for it: {Breed Focus: Araucana/Ameraucana/Easter Egger: The Facts}.

Bantam: A miniature or smaller version of a standard size chicken. Many standard sizes also have an accompanying bantam size! Also often referred to as a “Banty”.

 “Lola”, our Red Pyle Old English Game bantam hen.

Beak: The bony, hard, sharp protrusions which {simply put} form the mouth of the chicken. 

Beard: The fluffy cluster of feathers under the beak in breeds such as the Ameraucana, Easter Egger, Houdan, Faverolle, Belgian Quail Beared D’Anvers, Polish, and others.

Bedding: See Litter.

Billing {Out}: The action {by a chicken} of pushing feed from the feeder onto the floor.

Biotin: A {B} Vitamin present in egg yolks.

Bloom: The coating or covering on the shell of an egg (also sometimes known as cuticle) which seals the pores of the shell and prevents bacteria from entering. This is why washing your eggs is discouraged as it removes the bloom and invites bacteria in.

Blowout: The case where a chicken’s vent gets damaged due to the production of too large an egg.

Break Up: The act of discouraging a hen from setting.

Broiler: A chicken raised specifically for meat production.

Broiler {Feed}: Feed blend fed to chickens who are raised for their meat.

Brooder: A warm, enclosed environment for baby chicks, meant to imitate the warmth and protection of a mother hen.

Broody: The state in which a hen ceases to lay eggs and desires to set on {and ultimately hatch/raise chicks} eggs. Broody hens often pluck out their own breast feathers {for more effectively keeping her eggs warm}, eat and drink minimally, become very protective of the nest box {and their eggs}, and will not cease to set on eggs {even after hatching babies} if any eggs remain under her.

Candling: To use a strong light source in the aid of inspecting an egg to determine fertility.
Chick: A baby chicken.

 “Half-Pint”, our B.B. Red Old English Game chick.

Clean Legged: Having no feathers on the shanks.

Cloaca: The chamber that is just inside of the vent where the reproductive, the digestive, and the excratory tracts come together. 

Clutch: The name given to a group of eggs that are hatched together.

Our Easter Egger hen with her clutch of chicks.

Coccidiosis: An intestinal parasite most commonly resulting from damp living environments and primarily affecting younger chickens. Results in diarrhea {sometimes bloody} and can ultimately lead to death. 

Cock: Another name for a rooster.

Cockerel: A male chicken under the age of 1 year.

Young cockerel; 4 months old. 

Comb: The red (in most cases), fleshy growth on the top of a chicken’s head. Both males and females have them, with the males typically sporting a larger one. Along with the wattles, the comb helps to regulate body temperature. There are 9 different types of combs: Single, Pea, Strawberry, Rose (spiked and non-spiked), Buttercup, V, Walnut, Cushion, and Carnation.

“Max” with a beautiful example of a spiked rose comb. 

Coop: The typical name of a chicken house.

Crest: A cluster of feathers on the top of the heads of breeds such as the Polish, Houdan, and Silkie.

Crop: A sack or storehouse in the esophagus at the base of the chicken’s neck where food is held after eating. There it is softens and dissolves before traveling to the stomach. It is the first and most active part of the digestive tract and is constantly feeding small amounts of food into the stomach.

Crumbles {Feed}: Pellets that are broken up. See Pellets.

Cull: To put down {kill or butcher} a chicken.

Cuticle: See bloom.

Debeak: The removal of a chicken’s upper beak to discourage/prevent/stop cannibalism or pecking.

Down: The first fluff covering a baby chick or the soft, fluffy, lower part of a feather.

Droppings: Also known as poop, excrement, waste, or chicken manure.

Dub or Dubbing: The removal of the comb, wattles, or earlobes in order to prevent frostbite or in situations where the comb grows to be so large that it could prevent the bird from eating, or even weighing its head down. Sometimes a requirement of certain breeds in order to meet their standard qualifications.

Dusting or Dust Bath: Where a chicken grooms itself by rolling around in dust/dirt, sand, or shavings. Dusting cleans a chicken’s feathers and helps to remove parasites.

 “Blind Side” taking a dust bath.

Easter Egger: Breed of chicken often mistakenly called an Araucana or Ameraucana. It carries the blue egg gene (but can produce shades of blue, green, cream, pink, etc.), but does not meet the breed standards of the Araucana or Ameraucana. See my post on clarifying the differences of these breeds here: {Breed Focus: Araucana/Ameraucana/Easter Egger: The Facts}.

 Easter Egger pullet.

Egg Bound: The condition that refers to a hen who cannot pass a formed egg. 

Egg Tooth: The sharp, horned tip or cap of a baby chick’s beak used to crack through the shell for hatching.

Embryo: A fertilized egg.

Exhibition Breeds: Breeds of chickens raised for showing as opposed to egg laying or for meat.

Feathers: Chicken feathers cover the body (in most breeds) and protect them from the elements (rain, snow, wind, etc) as both a shield and to provide warmth.

Feather Foot or Feather Legged: Having feathers growing on the shanks. Breed variety examples: Cochins, d’Uccles, Brahmas, Langshans, and Faverolles.

Flock: A group of chickens living together.

Free Range: The term applied to chickens who are allowed to range {that is: wander, peck and scratch for insects and other edibles, seek out fresh greens, etc} without the restriction of fences, pens, runs, etc. Be careful when purchasing “free range” eggs from the store- the government’s definition of free range allows for fences while requiring a certain amount of area per bird.

 Some of my happy free-ranging flock.

Frizzle: Feathers that curl. Also the name of a breed of chicken who possesses these curled feathers.

Grit: Hard crushed rock, sand, pebbles, stones, or the like which should be offered to chickens in the aid of grinding and digesting their food. Typically, free range chickens don’t need this offered to them as they find it on their own.

Grower Feed: The feed given after starter feed age has passed (around 7 weeks). Fed until approx. 20 weeks of age, when chickens are switched to laying mash (for layers). Always check the label on your feed for individual instructions.

Hackles: Neck or cape feathers of a chicken. On roosters, these feathers are typically brightly colored. Fly lures for fly fishing are typically made of these feathers.

 Hackles on a young cockerel.

Hen: A female chicken over the age of 1 year.

Incubator: A device used for hatching eggs.

Jersey Giant: The largest chicken breed, with roosters reaching 13 pounds and hens reaching 11 pounds. Layers of extra-large brown eggs. Originating in New Jersey, United States.

Keel: The breastbone of a chicken.

Layer-Broiler: Chickens raised for eggs and for meat.

Laying Mash {or Layer}: Chicken feed that is balanced nutritionally for the hen of egg laying age. A good laying mash has additional protein and calcium added, which are vital nutrients for good egg production. Chickens are generally started on laying mash at 20 weeks of age. Always check the label on your feed for individual instructions.

Litter: Bedding or floor covering of the coop, most commonly pine shavings, straw, or sand {though other options are used}.

Mash: Feed blend that is ground but not a powder.

Meat Birds: See Broiler.

Mite: A parasite that can affect chickens.

Molting: Where a chicken sheds its feathers and grows new ones. Chickens will molt every year, usually prior to winter.

 “The Black”, our Jersey Black Giant hen during molt.

Muff: The feathers that stick out from the sides of a chicken’s face under the beak, connecting to the beard. Seen in bearded varieties such as the Ameraucana, Easter Egger, Houdan, Faverolle, Belgian Quail Beared D’Anvers, Polish, and others. See also Beard.

 Example of a muff on our Quail Antwerp Belgian hen.

Nest {or Nest Box}: A place for a hen to lay her eggs, in which she should feel safe and comfortable doing so.

Nest Egg: A false egg {or ball- I’ve seen golf balls used} most often made of plastic or wood placed within a nest box in order to encourage a hen to lay there. 

O
Old English Game: The Old English Game breed dates back to the 1800s and are descendents of ancient cock fighting birds. They are available in both a standard and bantam size; the bantams are one of the smallest chicken breeds and one of the most popular of bantam breeds.

Oviduct: The channel through which an egg travels when ready to be laid.

Pasting {or Pasting Up}: Most often affecting baby chicks, this is when droppings stick to the chickens’ bottoms and cause build up or even prevent more droppings from passing through. Can be fatal if not cleaned.

Pastured: The term given to chickens who are moved about in mobile chicken houses or pens, often called “chicken tractors”. This allows them access to fresh grazing daily while being protected from predators.

Pecking Order: The social order of a flock of chickens. The more dominant or higher ranking birds generally display a full feather set {they do not get pecked by other chickens}, choice roosting spots, first to feed and treats, and priority over the favored nesting box. Alternately, those on the bottom of the pecking order often display signs of being pecked, perch on the lower or less favored roosting spots, are last to feed and generally have to dash in and out of the flock when treats are fed {and are often chased away}, and are required to wait their turn for the preferred nesting box or choose another.

 White Cochin cockerel on the bottom of the pecking order. His back and wing feathers have been plucked off.

Pellets: Feed that is made of of compressed pieces of mash, which the chickens eat whole and cannot pick apart. 

Perch: See Roost.

Pinfeathers: New feathers as they begin to emerge through the skin.

Pip: The first hole created by a baby chick by poking its beak through the egg shell enclosing it, signaling the onset of hatching.

 The pip gives us our first sight of the baby chick!

Plumage: The feathers covering the entirety of the chicken.

Preening: The act of a chicken cleaning and grooming its feathers by pulling them through its beak.

Pullet: A female chicken under the age of 1 year.

Quail Antwerp Belgian: {Also known as Bearded D’Anvers} A “true bantam” which lacks a standard size of the breed; comes in a variety of colors and has been bred for showing for many years. A delightful and friendly breed, although the males have been known to be aggressive.

 “Lucy”, our Quail Antwerp Belgian hen.

R
Rhode Island Red: One of the most popular backyard chickens due to their proven egg laying abilities {they lay extra large brown eggs} and hardiness.

“Freeloader”, our Rhode Island Red hen.

Roost: The perch on which chickens rest or sleep; usually made of a pole or branch. Also referred to as the act of “roosting” which is to perch.

 Pullets roosting on our roosts made of tree branches.

Rooster: A male chicken over the age of 1 year.
Rumpless: A chicken without a tail. Breed characteristic for a true Araucana.

Run: Typically an outdoor, fenced-in range area for chickens.

Saddle: The area of a chicken’s back before the tail.

Saddle Feathers: The lower back feathers before the tail.

Scratch Feed: Feed that is fed separately from the primary source of feed. I like to call it “dessert”, and should be offered sparingly. Usually consisting of mixed grains such as cracked corn, oats, wheat, etc.

 Our daughter dumping out scratch feed for the flock.

Sebright: A bantam chicken breed having no accompanying standard size. They are a small, spritely breed that is striking in appearance and lays small, white eggs. The roosters are unique in that they are “hen-feathered”, meaning they do not possess the typical long sickle {tail} feathers, nor the long and thin pin-like feathers of the saddle and hackles commonly seen on most other roosters.

“Lacey”, our Silver Sebright hen.
Setting: The act of a hen keeping eggs warm in order to hatch them.

 Our beloved Black Cochin hen {April 2011-July 2013} setting on eggs.

Sexed: Chicks whose sex has been identified as either a pullet or cockerel and separated accordingly. When ordering chicks, you will find that unsexed or “straight run” chicks will cost you less money than a sexed chick.

Sickles: The extra long, curved tail feathers boasted by some roosters.

Spurs: The sharp, pointy protrusions {or talons or spikes} on the back of the legs. Used primarily for fighting and/or protection. Seen predominantly on roosters, but hens can also develop spurs. However, they tend to be far more advanced on the rooster in size and development.

Starter Feed: Chick Starter feed is fed from the time of birth until approximately the age of 7 weeks. Sometimes feed is sold as a “Starter/Grower” which is fed from the time of birth until 20 weeks. Always check the label on your feed for individual instructions.

T
Tufts or Tufted: Having feathers growing outward just below the ears. Seen in true Araucanas.

Tufted Araucana cockerel from Fallen Oak Poultry and More.

Type: Referring to identifying size and/or shape of a chicken in determining a chicken breed.

Unthrifty: A chicken who is not growing properly; small; failing to thrive or grow at a usual rate.

Vent: The rear opening of a chicken through which both eggs and droppings {or other excrement} are passed {from different channels: eggs are transported from the oviduct whereas waste is transported through the intestine}.

Wattles: The red fleshy flaps or “caruncle” {small fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal’s anatomy}, which hang below a chicken’s beak/under the chin. Chickens have 2 wattles (both males and females) and help regulate body temperature. In roosters, it is believed that wattles help him attract a mate.

Wattles on our Silver Sebright hen.

Yolk: The yellow part of the egg which contains all of the fat content and less than half of the protein in an egg. When an egg is fertilized, the embryo forms in the yolk.

Z
Zip: The crack in a hatching egg made by the chick as it attempts to emerge.