What Is a Pullet vs. a Hen? Understanding Chicken Life Stages

If you're new to chickens, the terminology can be confusing. Pullet, hen, cockerel, rooster — what does it all mean? Here's a simple breakdown of chicken life stages and why the distinction matters when you're buying birds.

Chicken Life Stages

Chick (Hatch to ~8 Weeks)

A chick is a newly hatched chicken, male or female. Chicks require a heat source (brooder), chick starter feed, and careful monitoring for the first several weeks of life. They are fragile, require significant time and attention, and won't lay eggs for 4–6 months.

Pullet (8 Weeks to First Egg)

A pullet is a young female chicken that has not yet begun laying eggs. The pullet stage typically runs from about 8 weeks of age until the bird's first egg — usually between 16 and 22 weeks depending on breed and season.

A point-of-lay pullet is a pullet that is on the verge of laying her first egg — typically 16–20 weeks old, with a bright red comb and wattles, showing squatting behavior, and actively exploring nesting boxes. This is the stage at which we sell our birds.

Hen (After First Egg)

Once a pullet lays her first egg, she becomes a hen. Hens are mature, laying females. A hen in her first and second year is at peak production. Production gradually declines after that, though many hens continue laying for 4–5 years or more at reduced rates.

Cockerel and Rooster

A cockerel is a young male chicken (under one year). A rooster is a mature male. Neither lays eggs. You do not need a rooster for hens to lay — only for fertilized eggs.

Why It Matters When You're Buying Birds

Understanding these stages helps you make a smarter purchasing decision:

  • Buying chicks means 4–6 months before your first egg, plus the cost and labor of brooding. You also won't know the sex of straight-run chicks until they're older — meaning you may end up with roosters you didn't want.
  • Buying pullets (not yet laying) means a shorter wait — but still several weeks before production begins.
  • Buying point-of-lay pullets — what we sell at Stafford Hill Farms — means eggs within days to weeks of bringing your birds home. No brooding, no waiting, no guessing on sex.

Bottom line: If you want eggs quickly and don't want the hassle of raising chicks from day one, a point-of-lay pullet from a reputable local farm is the most efficient path to a productive backyard flock.

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