When do chicks become pullets

[rstampa]

It might seem lame to you all but I have 7, seven week old chicks so my question is what's the differents in the names between chicks, pullets and Hens. Well I know a full grown chicken is a hen. (Over 40 and still counting.)

Thanks

 

[The Vail Benton"s]

By no means am I an expert, but on my humble acre, we start calling them pullets or cockerels when they lose the fuzz and feather out. I can't wait to find out whether or not I have that right!

 

[ozark hen]

Hmmm when they lose that fluff I call them chooks (teens) LOL

 

[eggchel]

They are pullets until they are one year old, and then they are hens.

 

[PortageGirl]

LOL, totally unscientific, but I call them pullets when they stop peeping and start clucking.

I think technically, they go from pullets to hens at a year old. Seems to me that's also about when they get really consistant about egg laying, are nicely filled out weight and feather wise too.

 

[jthayerkatz]

quoted from about.com:

The term "pullet" refers to a young hen, usually under one year of age. It can refer to a laying hen or a meat chicken but is more typically used in reference to a laying hen.

Common Misspellings: poulet, pulet
end quote

a female is a pullet from birth up to one year of age. Chick is the term for a small chicken, but it can be male or female chick. Pullet or cockeral tells the sex of the chick.

 

[rstampa]

Thank you all for the great information you have given me. That's why I love this forum. Everyone seems glad to share their knowledge.
So my girls are pullets. Thanks one and all.
Hope you have a great day and relaxing weekend.