hen

Everyday

1. A hen is a female chicken, a farm bird that lays eggs. tree →
2. A hen can also be the female of some other birds, like a hen pheasant. tree →
3. A hen party, or hen night, is a party for a woman before her wedding. tree →

In the lessons

Animals counted; eggs laid per hen per day (a rate); two legs each. In science: hens lay eggs; a chick hatches after about 21 days; the male is a rooster or cockerel. In stories: The Little Red Hen, Chicken Little. Phrases: «hen house», «mother hen», «as rare as hen's teeth».

Examples

• Each hen lays 1 egg a day. tree →
• The farmer has 12 hens. tree →
• How many eggs in a week? tree →
• Hens and cows have 40 legs in all. tree →
• The hen sat on her eggs to keep them warm. tree →
• We collected eggs from the hen house. tree →
• The little red hen asked who would help her. tree →
• A hen has two legs and two wings. tree →
• THE HEN THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS. tree →

Note

«Each hen lays» is a rate: hens × eggs per hen × days. A week is 7 days. Trap: a hen has 2 legs, a cow 4 — in leg puzzles they are not the same. A hen is female, a rooster (cock) is male, a chick is a baby.

In Jewish tradition

Here "Hen" is a man's name, Hen son of Zephaniah, not a bird.

Interpretation. In Zechariah, crowns are kept in the Temple as a reminder of those who brought gifts. Some commentators say Hen is another name for Josiah, though this is uncertain.

Examples

• And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. (Prophets ZEC.6.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Each hen lays» is a rate: hens × eggs per hen × days. A week is 7 days. Trap: a hen has 2 legs, a cow 4 — in leg puzzles they are not the same. A hen is female, a rooster (cock) is male, a chick is a baby.