chickenhoodn.
/ˈtʃɪk(ᵻ)nhʊd/, U.S. /ˈtʃɪkənˌhʊd/ The state or condition of being a chicken or young bird; the early period of a bird's life. Cf. chickhood n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > genus Gallus (domestic fowl) > [noun] > member of (fowl) > young or chicken > condition of
chickenhood1823
1823 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 14 183 [They] enjoy the luxury of a natural death, in their chickenhood, from the hands of Dolly the Scullion.
1866 Guardian 31 Oct. (Suppl.) The instinct which leads it [sc. a parrot] in unfledged chickenhood to imitate its parent.
1911 Poultry Item June 22/1 Why have you petted, and praised, and prized me simply for the sake of a few ribbons? Why didn't you shape me from chickenhood into something really useful.
2017 Bolivian Express Mag. (Nexis) 31 May We wondered whether a double yolk, one destined for chickenhood, the other acting as a dye, might be the cause of these vibrant-orange [chicken] carcasses.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1823