Cockerel is a young male chicken that is less than one year old.
Cockerels are often raised for meat or kept for breeding purposes. They grow faster and larger than hens but are less profitable for egg production. In many Kenyan households, cockerels are valued for traditional dishes, cultural ceremonies, and local markets.
Farmers may also sell them at a lower price than broilers, since their growth is slower and meat is tougher. Proper management is important to avoid aggressive behavior as cockerels mature.
See also: Broiler, Layer, Poultry farming, Livestock breeding, Indigenous chicken