Using "fat" to describe a hen...

6 replies

crumpetcrumpets · 07/03/2016 11:22

Hi everyone - I am writing a children's book, and I describe a character as a "fat laying hen". I wanted to gage a general feel to whether as parents you feel this is simply descriptive, whether anyone feels that referring to a laying hen as fat has negative connotations and just general feedback to using the word "fat" to describe an animal.

All feedback welcomed!

OP posts:

NotCitrus · 07/03/2016 12:39

Nine, ten, a big fat hen.
Fat cushions, fat tires, fat succulent sausages...

Lots of things that are good to be fat. Probably good to have the word used in positive contexts.

DropYourSword · 07/03/2016 12:26

No problem with the word fat, think it's unhealthy to shield children from reality.

On rereading though, if people were being reeeeeally picky, I suppose you could say this was either a fat hen that laid eggs, or some sort of greasy bummed chicken that laid globs of butter!

seafoodeatit · 07/03/2016 12:19

It's just descriptive, a ditty book DS got a week ago had a fat bug and a long thin bug, it's just the norm in kids books I think.

OverScentedFanjo · 07/03/2016 12:08

In "what the ladybird heard" Julia Donaldson writes about "the fat red hen" it wouldn't occur to me to get worked up about it.

thenewbrunette · 07/03/2016 12:07

Personally the word fat would not concern me to describe an animal. I would just see it as descriptive.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 07/03/2016 11:59

I'd see it as just a description (as long as the hen is actually fat).

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