Chicken Keeping Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the chicken-keeping terms every backyard flock owner runs into: pecking order, broody hen, molting, pasty butt, point of lay, dual-purpose breeds, and the crop.
What Is the Pecking Order in Chickens?
The pecking order is the social hierarchy in a flock that decides who eats, roosts, and dust-bathes first. Learn how it forms and how to ease the squabbles.
Read guide →What Is a Broody Hen?
A broody hen wants to sit on eggs and hatch chicks. Learn the signs of broodiness, why it stops egg laying, and how to either hatch eggs or break a broody.
Read guide →What Is Molting in Chickens?
Molting is the annual shedding and regrowth of feathers, usually in fall. Learn why hens stop laying during a molt and how extra protein helps them through it.
Read guide →What Is Pasty Butt in Chicks?
Pasty butt is a dangerous blockage of droppings on a chick’s vent. Learn the causes, how to gently clean it, and how to prevent it in your brooder.
Read guide →What Is Point of Lay?
Point of lay is the age, around 18 to 22 weeks, when a pullet is about to start laying eggs. Learn what to expect and how to support a new layer.
Read guide →Dual-Purpose Chickens Explained
Dual-purpose chickens are bred for both eggs and meat. Learn how they compare to layers and broilers and which breeds suit a self-reliant backyard flock.
Read guide →What Is the Crop in Chickens?
The crop is a storage pouch where a chicken holds food before digestion. Learn what a healthy crop feels like and the signs of impacted or sour crop.
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