The young are in her clutches! (3)
I believe the answer is:
hen
'the young' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hen that I've seen before include "Domestic egg layer" , "Not cock" , "Coop resident" , "Adult female chicken" , "This party is for women only" .)