pullet
PUHL-it
/ˈpʊlɪt/
A young female chicken, typically under one year of age, that has not yet begun to lay eggs.
Refers to the transitional stage between a chick and a mature, laying hen.
The story behind the word. Traces back to the Latin 'pullus', meaning a young animal. This evolved into the Old French 'poulet' (young chicken), which was eventually imported into Middle English as 'pullet' to designate immature female birds.
Word relationships
- young hen: Young hen is a general descriptive phrase, whereas pullet is the precise technical term used by farmers.
- cockerel: A cockerel is a young male chicken, while a pullet is a young female.
- hen: A hen is a fully mature female chicken, whereas a pullet is immature.
Commonly confused with
- chick: A chick is a very young, downy offspring of either sex, while a pullet is specifically female and older, having grown adult feathers.
Word family
- poultry (noun): Domestic birds kept for eggs or meat.
Collocations
- young pullet
- starter pullet
- pullet flock
- point-of-lay pullet
Example sentences
- "We purchased four healthy pullets from the local breeder, expecting our first eggs in about six weeks." Backyard farming blog post.
- "A growing pullet requires a developer feed that is lower in calcium than standard layer rations." Poultry feed guide.
Memory hook
A pullet is like a 'bullet' of potential—small, fast-growing, and ready to shoot out eggs soon. Pullet: a young hen full of potential.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a young male chicken (which is a cockerel) or a hen that is actively laying eggs.
Fun facts
- The first few eggs laid by a pullet are famously small and are referred to in the culinary world as 'pullet eggs,' prized by chefs for their rich, firm yolks.
Explore more words
heifer, poultry, adolescent, adolescence, nascent, incubation
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