broody hen
Definition
Noun: A domestic hen that is in a physiological and behavioral state characterized by a strong desire to sit on and hatch eggs. This state involves ceasing to lay eggs and exhibiting nesting behavior.
Usage
A "broody hen" is a specific term for a hen that is ready to incubate eggs. It describes her condition, not her breed. * The farmer moved the broody hen to a separate nesting box with fertilized eggs. * We need to discourage the broody hen from sitting on empty eggs if we want her to start laying again.
Advanced Usage
- "To go broody": This phrasal verb describes the hen entering this state.
- Our Silkie hen has gone broody again.
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person feeling a strong desire to care for or nurture, often related to having children, though this is informal.
- (Informal) Ever since her sister had a baby, she's been like a broody hen.
Variants and Related Words
- Broody (adjective): Having a strong desire to brood or incubate; can also describe a person who is moodily thoughtful.
- The broody hen refused to leave the nest.
- He was in a broody, contemplative mood.
- Broodiness (noun): The state of being broody.
- The hen's broodiness lasted for three weeks.
Synonyms
- Sitting hen
- Clucky hen (common in informal, everyday language)
- Incubating hen
Related Phrases
- To break a hen's broodiness: To take measures to stop a hen from being broody, often by isolating her from the nest.
- We put the hen in a wire cage to break her broodiness.
Noun
-
a domestic hen ready to brood
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