Backyard Art Travel Lightly Chickens, Etc.
Cockerels are the guys also known as cocks and roosters.
Another name for hens is pullets . The eggs are still produced it just means that, without a rooster to fertilize them, there is no chance of them turning into chicks. We had a hen who nearly went in the pot because she displayed such aggressive behavior as a youngster. If you buy your chicks from the average backyard breeder rather than a large hatchery it is very unlikely they will have the skills to sex the chick even on the first day. Straight run means you get the chicks as they come, randomly male or female.