The term for a baby chicken is "chick." Chicks hatch from eggs laid by hens and are typically covered in soft down feathers that help regulate their body temperature. Shortly after hatching, chicks are vulnerable and dependent on their mother for warmth and protection. They begin pecking for food and learning to recognize their environment quite quickly. Chicks grow rapidly and, after a few weeks, develop feathers and more defined features, eventually growing into adults known as chickens. The term "chick" also extends to refer to young birds of other species in casual usage.