Emily Carter
There are many different terms for chickens depending on their age, sex, and weight. A male chicken under 10 months old is called a cockerel. Cockerels are considered young roosters and are under a year old. They are the male equivalent of pullets, which are young female chickens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Stag, Cockerel |
| Age | Under 10 months old |
| Skin | Coarse |
| Flesh | Toughened, darkened |
| Meat | Tender |
| Weight | 3-4 pounds |
| Sexually mature | No |
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What You'll Learn
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a 'cockerel'
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a cockerel. This term is used for any sexually immature male chicken under one year old.
Cockerels are often distinguished from female chickens, or pullets, by their miniature behaviours and appearances, which mimic those of adult roosters and hens. For example, male chicks tend to have larger combs and wattles, as well as pointed hackle and saddle feathers. They also have thicker legs and bigger feet, and bolder personalities.
Sex-linking is a method used to distinguish a pullet from a cockerel. This method is based on the colour of a chicken's feathers and/or the growth rate of feathers. Roosters and hens will have different colours, and the rate at which their wing and tail feathers mature will differ.
In terms of meat, younger chickens have softer meat and are better suited for any cooking method, while older chickens have tougher meat that requires a longer cooking time. Male chickens under 10 months old will have coarse skin and toughened, darkened flesh.
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A young male chicken is identifiable by its combs and wattles
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a stag. While there is no clear physical marker to distinguish a young male chicken from a female chicken, one can identify a stag by its combs and wattles. Combs and wattles are the fleshy crests on a chicken's head and the hanging flaps of skin on either side under their beaks, respectively. These features are more prominent in male chickens.
Chicken breeders use the process of sexual dimorphism to distinguish between a cockerel (a male chicken under a year old) and a pullet (a female chicken under a year old). Cockerels and pullets are miniature versions of adult roosters and hens, and their behaviours and appearances will mimic those of adult chickens.
One way to identify a stag is by its comb and wattles. Combs and wattles grow faster and are larger and redder in male chickens. This is noticeable around 6-8 weeks of age. Male chickens also develop pointed hackle and saddle feathers, which are noticeable around 10-12 weeks of age.
Male chickens also tend to have thicker legs and bigger feet than female chickens. They also have bolder personalities. Male chickens will also exhibit characteristic behaviours such as courting, crowing, mounting, and sparring.
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A cockerel is the male equivalent of a 'pullet'
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a stag. At this age, the chicken will have coarse skin and toughened, darkened flesh.
Like hens, pullets are exclusively female. They are young, sexually immature birds that have not yet begun laying eggs. Definitions of pullets vary, but they are typically considered to be any female under one year old.
Cockerels, on the other hand, are the male equivalent of pullets. They are sexually immature males under one year old. There is no clear physical transition between cockerels and roosters (or cocks); the distinction is purely based on time.
Cockerels and pullets are miniature versions of adult roosters and hens, so their behaviours and appearances will mimic those of the adults. For example, pullets will have shorter, more rounded feathers than cockerels, and they will lack the long saddle feathers and tail feathers that are characteristic of cockerels.
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A 'pullet' is a young female chicken under one year old
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a "stag".
Now, onto pullets. A pullet is a young female chicken under one year old. They are often referred to as "teenager" birds and have not yet started laying eggs. Pullets are fully grown and will have a full coat of shiny new feathers, but their bodies are still developing. Once a pullet reaches the age at which her breed typically starts laying eggs, she is then regarded as a "point-of-lay" hen. This usually happens between the bird's 16th and 24th week, but it can vary depending on the breed.
Pullets are exclusively female, and definitions vary depending on who you ask. Some people define pullets as any female chicken under one year old, while others argue that the term only applies to birds between 12 and 16 weeks old. Some even say that female chickens are pullets until their first moult, which doesn't occur until 18 months, well after they start laying.
The term "pullet" comes from the Middle English "polet", which was derived from the Anglo-French "pullet" or "pullote", meaning a young bird or chicken. It is also related to the Latin word "pullus", which means a young animal or chicken.
In the context of chicken breeding and sales, the term "pullet" is commonly used to refer to young female chickens that are not yet mature enough to lay eggs. When purchasing a pullet, it's important to note that they won't start laying eggs immediately, so if you're looking for egg-laying hens, you may want to consider buying "point-of-lay" hens instead.
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A male chicken over one year old is called a 'rooster'
A male chicken under 10 months old is referred to as a "stag".
Younger chickens, in general, have softer meat and are suitable for any cooking method, while older chickens have tougher meat that requires longer cooking. Male chickens under 10 months old are characterised by coarse skin and toughened, darkened flesh.
Now, a male chicken over one year old is called a "rooster". Roosters are also referred to as "cocks", particularly outside the United States. There is no clear physical marker to distinguish a young male chicken, or cockerel, from a rooster; instead, the term is applied to any male bird over one year old.
Roosters can be identified by their characteristic behaviours, such as crowing, courting, mounting, and sparring. They also have longer feathers than hens, including pointed hackle and saddle feathers, and more prominent combs and wattles.
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Frequently asked questions
A male chicken is called a rooster or a cock.
A young male chicken is called a cockerel. A cockerel is a male chicken under a year old.
A male chicken under 10 months old is called a cockerel. A cockerel is also sometimes referred to as a fryer, or a capon if it has been castrated.
A cockerel becomes a rooster when it hits puberty and begins mating. There is no clear physical transition between cockerels and roosters, and the distinction is measured purely by time.
