A female chicken mature enough to lay eggs is called a ______.

A female chicken mature enough to lay eggs is called a hen. This term specifically refers to adult female chickens that have reached sexual maturity and are capable of producing eggs.

In poultry terminology, pullets refer to young female chickens that are not yet old enough to lay eggs. A cock is a male chicken, often referred to as a rooster, while a chick refers to a very young bird, regardless of its gender. Hence, the correct choice reflects mature female chickens that are capable of egg production, distinguishing them from younger stages or different genders in the poultry life cycle.