As a backyard chicken keeper I often get asked what the difference is between a fowl chicken and regular poultry chicken. For a long time I thought they were interchangeable terms. However, after doing some research, I realized there are some distinct differences between fowl and poultry that are important to understand.
Fowl Refers to Wild or Domesticated Birds
The term “fowl” has a broad meaning that includes any bird that is hunted or raised for meat and eggs. Fowl encompasses both wild birds like pheasants, partridges, and quail as well as domesticated birds like chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. Essentially, fowl includes all varieties of birds raised or captured for food.
Some key characteristics of fowl:
- Includes both wild and domesticated birds
- Hunted or raised for meat, eggs, feathers or sport
- Examples: chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasant, quail
So in essence a fowl chicken simply refers to a domesticated chicken raised for meat and eggs.
Poultry Refers Specifically to Domesticated Birds
While fowl has a wide meaning, poultry is a more narrow term that refers specifically to domesticated birds raised for food production. The most common poultry species are chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese that have been bred and raised on farms.
Some defining traits of poultry
- Only includes domesticated birds
- Raised for meat, eggs, or feathers
- Not hunted or caught from the wild
- Examples: chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese
So a poultry chicken refers exclusively to a domesticated chicken grown for its meat and eggs.
Key Differences Between Fowl and Poultry
To summarize the distinctions:
- Origin: Fowl can be wild or domesticated, while poultry only refers to domesticated birds.
- Purpose: Fowl includes birds hunted for sport or food. Poultry focuses on domestic production.
- Examples: Fowl includes pheasants and quail, while poultry does not.
- Legal Designation: Game laws differentiate between fowl and poultry.
While the terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, it’s helpful to understand the technical differences between fowl and poultry chickens.
Different Terminology Used for Chickens
The terminology for chickens can get a bit complex. Here’s a quick guide:
- Chicken: Generic term for the species as a whole
- Hen: Mature female chicken
- Rooster: Mature male chicken
- Pullet: Young female chicken under 1 year old
- Cockerel: Young male chicken under 1 year old
- Broiler: Chicken bred specifically for meat
- Fryer: Young chicken under 4 months old weighing 2.5-4 pounds
- Roaster: Chicken between 3-5 months old weighing 4-8 pounds
So a fowl or poultry chicken could be correctly referred to as a pullet, hen, broiler, fryer, or roaster depending on specifics like age, sex, and purpose.
Is There a Difference in Taste?
In terms of meat quality, there is little difference between pasture-raised fowl chickens and poultry chickens raised in barn or free-range conditions. However, most people find that pasture-raised fowl have more flavor and a firmer, leaner texture due to their diverse natural diets and higher activity levels. Fowl chickens allowed to forage freely develop more muscle and less fat compared to conventionally farmed poultry chickens.
Fowl and Poultry Both Play Important Roles
Whether it’s wild forest-dwelling fowl or domesticated poultry chickens, both groups provide high-quality protein, nutrients, and eggs. Fowl and poultry may have different backgrounds, but they serve equally important roles in feeding populations around the globe. The rich diversity of birds encompassed by the broad term “fowl” provides unique flavors and textures to suit every taste preference.
So next time you enjoy a meal starring our fine feathered friends, take a moment to appreciate the difference between fowl and poultry!
Chicken Vs Fowl: What’s the Difference Between the Two?
Despite the fact that the terms are sometimes used synonymously, “chicken” refers to a particular type of bird, whereas “fowl” can cover a wide range of birds.
For instance, domesticated chickens are raised for their meat or eggs. Any bird, including various domesticated and wild gallinaceous species, can be considered a fowl.
What is a Chicken?
As previously established, the scientific name for domestic chickens is Gallus gallus domesticus. Actually, the red junglefowl subspecies include chicken. One of the most popular and widely used domestic animals in modern times is the chicken.
Although the number of chickens worldwide varies continually, the website Statista estimates that there are currently around 22 billion of them in existence.
Chickens make up the majority of domesticated birds and poultry in the world today. This is due to the fact that humans use them as their main source of both meat and eggs, and some people even keep them as pets.
Chickens were once used for cockfighting and frequently observed in ceremonial settings before being kept as a food source. They first started being kept as farm animals and for meat and eggs during the Hellenistic era. The birds are currently virtually everywhere, both in the wild and being domesticated for agricultural use.
Jungle Fowl Facts: the WILD CHICKEN?! Animal Fact Files
FAQ
What is the difference between a chicken and a fowl?
Colloquially , fowl and poultry are used interchangeably. However, fowl comprise of two biological orders of birds, landfowl ( chicken, quail and pheasant) and waterfowl, the other hand refers to any domesticated bird raised for meat or/ and eggs.
What is considered a fowl?
Does fowl taste like chicken?
They are often kept as pets (as they are very friendly toward little kids). So most of the time they are free range, and not raised in the disgusting Iowa CAFOs. Meaning they will often taste just a bit “gamier”. Not in a bad way. They taste like chicken. Just not like corporate Perdue chicken.
Is a rooster a fowl?
Yes, a rooster is a type of fowl. In general, fowl refers to domesticated birds, especially those raised for food, and the term includes chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.