The nickname comes from the clucking second subject in the first movement, which reminded listeners of the jerky back-and-forth head motion of a walking hen.
[2] The symphony is in standard four movement form and scored for flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns and strings.
The dotted rhythms that answer are transformed into fanfares later in the first theme group of the sonata form movement.
The second theme in B♭ major features dotted repeated notes in a solo oboe against jerky acciaccaturas in the first violins.
This is the "Hen" motif that gives the symphony its nickname, although it is also related to the dotted rhythm response in the first theme.