pullet

noun

pul·​let ˈpu̇-lət 

: a young hen

specifically : a hen of the domestic chicken less than a year old

Examples of pullet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consequently, the company was obligated to cull 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, which make up approximately 3.6% of the company's total flock as of its most recent report on March 2. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Chickens at a plant in Texas' panhandle have tested positive bird flu resulting in the slaughter of 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets (young hens). —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Occurring at a company facility in Palmer County, positive tests for pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) resulted in the slaughter of nearly two million chickens, including 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets, or young hens. —Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Cal-Maine Foods on Tuesday announced chickens at its facility in Parmer County, in the state's southwestern panhandle, tested positive for pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) resulting in slaughter of nearly 2 million chickens − 1.6 million hens and 337,000 pullets (young hens). —USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

The average lifetime egg production of a pullet is in the 600 range. —John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023

Under the investments announced last week, Cal-Maine will build four new cage-free hen houses and convert two pullet houses in Utah for a total capacity of 810,000 cage-free layer hens. —Kristin Broughton, WSJ, 4 Apr. 2022

In 2018, a fire destroyed a pullet barn at the facility. —Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati.com, 21 Apr. 2020

Crystal Cahill of Great Meadows, New Jersey, twice took advantage of that sort of deal after buying what she was told were four 7-week-old pullets in November. —Author: Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 19 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polet, from Anglo-French pullet young bird, chicken, diminutive of pulle, poule young animal, from Late Latin pullus, from Latin, young animal, chicken, sprout — more at foal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pullet

noun

pul·​let ˈpu̇l-ət 

: a young hen

especially : a hen of the domestic chicken that is less than a year old

Etymology

Middle English polet "a young chicken or fowl," from early French pullet (same meaning), derived from earlier pulle, poule "young animal," from Latin pullus "young animal, chicken" — related to pool entry 3, poultry