What Animals Form a Brood?
The word for a clutch of young raised together — mostly feathers, with one surprising outlier.
Which Animals Form a Brood?
“Brood” most reliably describes chickens, grouse, hens, and turkeys — all egg-laying birds whose young hatch together and stay together under a parent’s care. Jellyfish also turn up on some collective-noun lists for “brood,” though it’s a far less common and far looser fit, which we’ll get into below.
Where Does “Brood” Come From?
“Brood” comes from Old English brod, meaning “that which is bred, offspring, hatching,” tied to the verb “breed.” Its core sense has always been young animals — historically poultry chicks especially — hatched from eggs laid at the same time and raised as a set. That’s why “brood” still sounds distinctly domestic and barnyard-flavored compared to wilder terms like “flock” or “covey”: it emphasizes the parent-and-young relationship, not just the group itself.
Brood vs. Clutch vs. Hatch
These three get mixed up constantly. A clutch is the eggs themselves, before they hatch. A brood is the young after they’ve hatched, especially while still under a parent’s care. “Hatch” is sometimes used the same way as brood but is less standard. So technically, a hen sits on a clutch of eggs and later leads a brood of chicks — the words mark different stages of the same event.
Animal-by-Animal Breakdown
Chickens: “Brood” is the standard term for a hen’s chicks specifically; adult chickens as a whole are more often a “flock” or “peep.”
Grouse: A young family group is a “brood,” while adult grouse gathered together are usually called a “covey” or “pack.”
Hens: Overlaps directly with chickens — a hen and her chicks together are her brood, the textbook use of the word.
Jellyfish: Worth a flag — jellyfish are far more commonly grouped as a “smack” or a “bloom,” and “brood” doesn’t fit their biology the way it fits egg-hatching birds (jellyfish don’t raise young in anything resembling a brood). It shows up on some folk lists, but treat it as the least authoritative entry here.
Turkeys: A hen turkey’s poults are her brood; adult turkeys together are more commonly a “rafter” or “gang.”
🧠 Test Your Knowledge
Three quick questions. See what stuck.1. What does “brood” specifically refer to?
2. Which animal on this list is the least typical fit for “brood”?
3. What term describes a hen’s eggs before they hatch?
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals form a brood?
Chickens, grouse, hens, and turkeys are the classic broods — all young birds hatched and raised together. Jellyfish appear on some lists, but it’s a much looser usage.
What is the difference between a brood and a clutch?
A clutch is a set of eggs before they hatch; a brood is the young after hatching, especially while still under a parent’s care.
Is brood only used for birds?
Mostly, yes. It comes from Old English brod, tied to breeding and hatching, and fits egg-laying birds most naturally. Its use for jellyfish is much rarer and less biologically apt.
What is a group of adult chickens called instead?
Adult chickens are usually called a flock or a peep. Brood specifically refers to a hen’s chicks.
Where does the word brood come from?
From Old English brod, meaning “that which is bred, offspring, hatching,” related to the verb breed.