220+ Adorable Chicken Names: What Should I Name My Feathered Friends?

Bringing home chickens is so exciting, but I gotta tell you – picking names for these feathered personalities can be one of the most fun (and challenging!) parts of chicken ownership. After raising chickens for years, I’ve learned that these birds deserve names that match their unique looks and quirky behaviors.

Whether you’re looking for something cute, funny, or totally punny, I’ve gathered over 220 chicken naming ideas to help you find the perfect fit for your flock. Let’s dive into some egg-cellent options! (Sorry, couldn’t resist that one!)

Why Naming Your Chickens Matters

Believe it or not, chickens can actually learn their names! While my first flock had some pretty random names (my daughter chose “Rocky” for our most delicate hen – go figure), I’ve found that giving chickens names helps create a stronger bond between you and your birds.

Plus, it’s just plain fun to introduce visitors to “Hennifer Lopez” or “Mother Clucker” when they come over to see your backyard setup!

Best Chicken Naming Strategies

Before we dive into specific name lists, here are some quick tips I’ve learned along the way

• Match their personality – Watch your chickens for a few days to see their quirks
• Consider their appearance – Feather colors or patterns can inspire great names
• Choose a theme – Naming your whole flock around a theme (like celebrities or food) makes it extra fun
• Keep it simple – Shorter names are easier for chickens to potentially recognize
• Don’t overthink it – Sometimes the silliest names end up being the most fitting!

Cute Chicken Names That’ll Make You Smile

If you’ve got adorable fluffy chickens like Silkies or Polish hens, these sweet names might be perfect:

• Buttercup
• Fluffy
• Marshmallow
• Tootsie
• Honeycomb
• Cuddles
• Sunshine
• Daffodil
• Cotton
• Frizzle
• Puffy
• Sweet Pea
• Pixie
• Peepers
• Princess Fluffy Butt

My neighbor named her tiny bantam “Nugget” which was both adorable and slightly concerning at the same time!

Classic & Old-Fashioned Chicken Names

There’s something timeless about giving chickens traditional names. These work especially well for stately breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, or Light Sussex:

• Henrietta
• Bertha
• Mabel
• Ruby
• Dorothy
• Ethel
• Beatrice
• Florence
• Matilda
• Edwina
• Gertrude
• Gladys
• Harriet
• Winifred
• Charlotte

My oldest Rhode Island Red is called “Margo” and it fits her bossy personality perfectly!

Hilarious Punny Chicken Names

This is where chicken naming gets REALLY fun. These pun-tastic names always get a laugh when I introduce my flock to visitors:

• Cluck Norris
• Hennifer Aniston
• Hen Solo
• Amelia Egghart
• Princess Lay-a
• Attila the Hen
• Mary Poopins
• Yolko Ono
• Gregory Peck
• Eggatha Christie
• Goldie Hen
• Oprah Henfrey
• Russell Crow
• Feather Locklear
• Hillary Fluff

My personal favorite is “Albert Eggstein” for any particularly smart chickens in your flock!

Pop Culture Chicken Names

If you’re a fan of movies, TV, or Disney, these recognizable names could be perfect:

• Chicken Little
• Big Bird
• Foghorn Leghorn
• Lady Kluck
• Hei Hei (from Moana)
• Rocky Rhode (Chicken Run)
• Woodstock
• Hedwig
• Maleficent
• Elsa
• Clara Cluck
• Snow White
• Cruella
• Katniss
• Hermione

Food-Inspired Chicken Names

Since chickens give us eggs, food names have a nice thematic connection:

• Nugget
• Drumstick
• Waffles
• Benedict
• Scrambles
• Sunny Side Up
• General Tsao
• KFC
• Noodle
• Peaches
• Mango
• Cocoa
• Pepper
• Cookie
• Biscuit

Chicken Names Based on Colors

Do you have a colorful flock? Try these names based on your chicken’s feathers:

For Black Chickens:

• Shadow
• Midnight
• Onyx
• Crow
• Ebony

For White Chickens:

• Snowball
• Pearl
• Cotton
• Ghost
• Angel

For Brown/Red Chickens:

• Penny
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Rusty
• Copper

For Multi-Colored Chickens:

• Rainbow
• Speckles
• Splash
• Marble
• Confetti

Perfect Pair & Group Names

If you’re bringing home multiple chickens at once, why not give them coordinated names? These are super fun for pairs or trios:

Duos:

• Salt & Pepper
• Mac & Cheese
• Thelma & Louise
• Bonnie & Clyde
• Laverne & Shirley
• Sonny & Cher
• Biscuits & Gravy
• Peanut Butter & Jelly

Trios or More:

• Snap, Crackle & Pop
• Blossom, Bubbles & Buttercup
• Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato
• Harry, Ron & Hermione
• Flora, Fauna & Merryweather
• Rock, Paper & Scissors

Rooster Names with Attitude

If you’ve got a male in your flock, they often need names with a bit more swagger:

• Brewster
• Colonel Sanders
• Big Red
• Napoleon
• Winston
• Rusty
• Bruce
• Rocky
• Tyson
• Rex
• Jagger
• Mohawk
• Mr. Feathers
• Duke
• Cornelius

My friend has a rooster named “Sir Clucks-a-lot” and it’s hilarious watching her call him in for treats!

Earthy & Nature-Inspired Names

For a more natural vibe, consider these earthy options:

• Willow
• Fern
• Maple
• Sage
• River
• Pebbles
• Clover
• Daisy
• Sky
• Rocky
• Birdie
• Sparrow
• Meadow
• Dew
• Forest

How We Named Our Chickens (A Personal Story)

When we got our first batch of chicks, I spent DAYS agonizing over the perfect names. I had lists, I researched chicken name websites, I even considered naming them after my favorite TV characters.

But you know what happened? My 5-year-old daughter took one look at them and blurted out names on the spot. We ended up with:

• Rocky (our most timid hen – ironic!)
• Waffle (who doesn’t even like eating waffles)
• Harry (definitely a female chicken)
• Corey (no idea where she got this one)

And honestly? Those names stuck better than any carefully planned names I would’ve chosen. Sometimes the most random names end up being the most fitting!

Practical Tips for Naming Your Chickens

A few things I’ve learned from naming multiple flocks:

1. Wait a few days – Personalities emerge after they settle in
2. Try names out loud – Some names are fun on paper but awkward to call across the yard
3. Keep a naming notebook – Jot down ideas as they come to you
4. Don’t stress too much – They’ll likely end up with nicknames anyway!
5. Let kids help – Children come up with the most creative (and hilarious) chicken names

My Most Popular Chicken Names (According to Visitors)

Whenever people visit our little backyard flock, these names always get the biggest reactions:

• “Mother Clucker” (our bossy head hen)
• “Egg-bert” (ironically our worst layer)
• “Tina Feather” (who has amazing plumage)
• “Sir Clucks-a-lot” (our only rooster)
• “Princess Lay-a” (our most productive egg layer)

Shopping List for New Chicken Owners

While we’re on the topic of new chickens, here’s a quick shopping list to make sure you’re prepared:

• Chicken coop
• Feeder
• Waterer
• Bedding/wood shavings
• Layer pellets
• Chicken grit
• Nesting boxes
• Perch
• Calcium supplement
• Chicken treats

Final Thoughts on Chicken Naming

Naming your chickens is just one of the many joys of chicken keeping. Whether you go with something punny, classic, or completely random, the most important thing is that you enjoy your feathered friends!

And remember – chickens don’t care what you call them as long as you call them for treats!

What names have you chosen for your chickens? I’d love to hear your creative ideas in the comments below!

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Do you have chickens with unique names? Share them in the comments! And if you’re looking for more chicken-keeping tips, check out our other articles on coop design, chicken health, and more!

Cool chicken names include food-inspired names like Nugget and Waffles, bold names like Raven and Phoenix, and celebrity-inspired names such as Cluck Norris and Chick Jagger.

Yes, chickens can learn to recognize their names through association with positive reinforcement, such as treats and affection, though there’s no direct scientific evidence proving they understand names as a concept. You can train a chicken to recognize its name by consistently calling it during feeding time or when giving treats. Many chicken owners report their birds respond to their names, often coming when called, which builds trust and helps in managing the flock.

The 90/10 rule for chickens states that 90% of a chicken’s diet should come from a balanced, complete poultry feed, while the remaining 10% can be made up of treats, such as garden scraps, fruits, vegetables, or scratch grains. This rule ensures that chickens receive all the essential nutrients they need for growth, health, and egg production without diluting their diet with too many nutritionally empty extras.

Some popular chicken names include Nugget, Henrietta, Penny, Snowball, and Goldie, but many owners choose names based on their chicken’s personality, appearance, or by using puns and pop culture references.