henne

Henne is a German noun meaning an adult female chicken. It is used in farming and domestic contexts to refer to a hen kept for egg production or breeding. The male chicken is called Hahn, and the species as a whole is referred to as Huhn; a young bird is a Küken. The plural form is Hennen.

In poultry farming, Legehenne denotes a laying hen kept for egg production; Legehennen are common in commercial egg operations. These birds are typically managed with considerations for nutrition, lighting, and housing to optimize egg yield and welfare.

In culinary and general usage, Henne may appear in discussions of poultry, though everyday meat is more often described as Hähnchen or Hühnchen. The term Henne is primarily a veterinary and agricultural classification rather than a culinary designation.