A hen is a female chicken that has reached maturity and is capable of laying eggs
. Chickens are a type of domesticated fowl that are bred for their meat and eggs
. The term "chicken" can refer to either gender of bird, while "hen" specifically refers to female chickens
. Other terms used to describe chickens include rooster (adult male), cockerel (young male), and pullet (young female that has not yet started laying eggs)
. Hens fiercely guard their chicks and brood them when necessary to keep them warm, but they seldom feed them directly
. Chickens farmed primarily for eggs are called layer hens, and some breeds can produce over 300 eggs per year
. After 12 months of laying, a commercial hen's egg-laying ability starts to decline to the point where the flock is commercially unviable
