What is the Difference Between Chicken and Hen and Pullet and Cock and Cockerel and Rooster and Capon?

The main differences between chicken, hen, pullet, cock, cockerel, rooster, and capon are based on the bird's age, sex, and whether it has been castrated:

1. Chicken: A general term for a young chick, regardless of sex.
2. ** Hen**: A sexually mature female chicken, usually over one year of age.
3. Pullet: A young female chicken, less than one year of age.
4. Cock: A synonym for a male chicken, especially in the United Kingdom.
5. Cockerel: A young male chicken, less than one year of age.
6. Rooster: A male chicken that is over one year of age. The terms "rooster" and "cock" are interchangeable, with "rooster" being more common in the United States and "cock" being more common in the rest of the world.
7. Capon: An adult male chicken that has been castrated, resulting in a larger, fatter bird. Capons are often used for meat production due to their increased size.

To differentiate between hens and roosters, several physical and behavioral characteristics can be observed:

• Tail feathers: Roosters have brighter and longer tail feathers than hens.
• Crowing: Roosters crow to protect their territory and show dominance, while hens do not.
• Sociability: Roosters are more aggressive and domineering, while hens are generally more social.

Comparative Table: Chicken vs Hen vs Pullet vs Cock vs Cockerel vs Rooster vs Capon

Here is a table summarizing the differences between chicken, hen, pullet, cock, cockerel, rooster, and capon:

Key differences between these terms include the age and sex of the chicken, as well as whether the male chicken has been castrated (capon).