Isn’t it fun how every group of animals gets a fun name? A pack of wolves, a pride of lions, a pod of whales. Even among different bird species, they get all sorts of interesting names.
From a flamboyance of flamingos to a murder of crows, a parliament of owls to a company of parrots. Fun stuff for sure, and occasionally poetic. But that makes me ask: what do you call a group of chickens?
A group of chickens is simply called a flock, or sometimes a brood, though this term is now rare.
Sorry to disappoint you! A group of chickens gets one of the most generic names there is when it comes to talking about a plurality of this most-common poultry. That being said, there’s definitely more to know when it comes to the naming conventions of chickens, so keep reading.
Isn’t Flock a Generic Term for Any Group of Birds?
Yes. Flock, generically, refers to any group of birds of like kind, and more rarely certain mammals like sheep…
If you want to get really technical about it, a flock of animals is a term applied to a group of individual animals that act with an almost collective instinct when it comes to moving and reacting as a group, distinct from a herd which is made up of more independently-minded critters.
In any case, yes, flock is still the correct though boring term for a group of chickens.
Does a Group of Chickens Go by Any Other Names?
Only rarely. In some older texts, you’ll see a group of chickens referred to as a brood, although this term is used in a slightly different context today as we will learn in the next section.
What Do You Call a Group of Chicks?
A group of baby chicks is sometimes referred to as a brood or peep. Occasionally you’ll hear a group of chicks referred to as a clutch, though this is properly applied to a group of eggs- not live birds.
What Do You Call a Group of Hens?
A group of hens alone is also referred to as a flock. Or, if you prefer it, a brood by that archaic term.
What Do You Call a Group of Roosters?
A group of roosters, no surprise here, is also referred to as a flock. But, if I have my way, a group of roosters will be referred to as a riot, because that’s what you’re going to have on your hands if they are all together without any access to hens!
What is the Term for a Mixed Group of Chickens?
Once again, a group of mixed chickens, be it hens and roosters or adults and chicks, is also referred to as a flock. Simply a flock, nothing more.
Tim is a farm boy with vast experience on homesteads, and with survival and prepping. He lives a self-reliant lifestyle along with his aging mother in a quiet and very conservative little town in Ohio. He teaches folks about security, prepping and self-sufficiency not just through his witty writing, but also in person.
Find out more about Tim and the rest of the crew here.