What is the term for a female chicken?

The term for a female chicken is "hen." Hens are mature female chickens typically over one year old that are capable of laying eggs. This designation distinguishes them from other types of chickens in poultry terminology.

"Pullet" refers to a young female chicken that is under one year old and has not yet started laying eggs. While "rooster" is the term for a male chicken, and "capon" describes a castrated male chicken often raised for meat, these options are not applicable when referring specifically to female chickens. Thus, "hen" clearly reflects the correct identification of a female chicken in the context of poultry.