Hen is a term used to refer to female birds, particularly domesticated chickens. It can also be used as a verb to mean to act in an overly cautious or timid manner.
Usage examples
Hen: a female chicken that is often raised for its eggs or meat
The farmer collected the hens' eggs every morning.
I bought a dozen fresh hen eggs from the local market.
The hen was brooding over her nest, protecting her eggs.
We enjoyed a delicious roast hen for dinner last night.
The children were excited to see the hen and her chicks in the farmyard.
The free-range hens roamed freely in the grassy field.
The farmer built a spacious henhouse to house his growing flock of hens.
Some hens have beautiful feathers with vibrant colors.
The hen clucked loudly to warn her chicks of potential danger.
Perfectly Pretty Referred to by Alan Titchmarsh as «The Downton Abbey» of hen houses, this stunning Chalet comes in a variety of 132 Farrow & Ball colours and houses 4 birds. (idealhome.co.uk)
Ranging from a «5 - egg» to a «1 - egg» rating, the producer's score is dependent on the quality of hen laying housing conditions, compliance in meeting USDA expectations and organic standards, as well as the organization's transparency in releasing information surrounding their egg production practices. (drjockers.com)
And I am — I've made stock with a laying hen from Polyface and the flavor was wonderful. (farmfreshfeasts.com)