Egg producers (4)
I believe the answer is:
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">egg producers</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for hens that I've seen before include "Adult chickens" , "Birds kept for laying" , "Female chickens" , "Female fowl" , "Female birds" .)