høne

A høne is a mature female chicken, the domestic form of Gallus gallus domesticus. In Norwegian, the male counterpart is called a hane. Høner are kept worldwide for eggs, meat, or both, and they show wide variation in size and plumage depending on breed. Domestic chickens descend from the red junglefowl of Southeast Asia, domesticated thousands of years ago and selectively bred for egg production, meat yield, or dual-purpose traits.

Hens reach sexual maturity in a few months. They typically lay eggs regularly, one egg roughly every 24 to 26 hours under favorable conditions, though production fluctuates with breed and daylight. A rooster is not required for egg production, but fertilized eggs result from mating with a hane. Hens may become broody, meaning they want to hatch eggs, and incubation lasts about 21 days.

In farming and backyard settings, hens are kept in flocks and need shelter, nesting boxes, perches, and access to clean water and a balanced diet. They are omnivores, eating grains, insects, greens, and scraps. Welfare considerations include space, ventilation, beak management, and disease prevention, with better housing and enrichment improving behavior and health.

Common dual-purpose and egg-laying breeds include Rhode Island Red, Leghorn, and Sussex, among many others. Lifespan and productive years vary by environment and breed; commercially, hens are often culled after peak production, while well cared-for backyard hens can live several years beyond their peak.