Have you ever been confused when someone talks about “fowl” and “chicken” like they’re the same thing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! As someone who’s raised backyard chickens for years, I’ve noticed this mix-up happens all the time, even among experienced farmers Let’s clear up this common confusion once and for all!
What Exactly is Fowl?
Fowl is actually a broader term that refers to a large group of birds that are related genetically. It’s like saying “vehicle” instead of specifically saying “car” or “truck.” The fowl category includes many different types of birds, both wild and domesticated.
Fowl can be classified into three main categories:
- Gamefowl/Landfowl: Birds that live primarily on land, like pheasants, quail, turkeys, and yes, chickens
- Waterfowl: Birds that spend much of their time in or near water, such as ducks and geese
So when someone uses the term “fowl,” they’re talking about a whole classification of birds, not just one specific type.
What Makes a Chicken a Chicken?
Chickens (scientific name Gallus gallus domesticus) are a specific type of domesticated fowl. They’re descended from wild junglefowl of Southeast Asia and have been bred over centuries for meat and egg production
Chickens have some distinctive characteristics
- Rounded, squat bodies
- Feathers in various colors (depending on breed)
- Red combs on top of their heads
- Wattles hanging below their beaks
- High-arched tails
When we talk about the chickens in our backyards or farms, we’re referring to a specific species of domesticated fowl raised primarily for eggs and meat.
So What’s the Real Difference?
The simplest way to understand the difference is this: All chickens are fowl, but not all fowl are chickens.
It’s a relationship of category and subcategory. Here’s a way to visualize it:
FOWL├── Landfowl/Gamefowl│ ├── Chickens│ ├── Turkeys│ ├── Pheasants│ └── Quail└── Waterfowl ├── Ducks └── GeeseCommon Characteristics of Fowl
Despite their differences, most fowl share some interesting characteristics:
1. They’re Prolific Egg-Layers
Most fowl produce lots of eggs and lay them in clutches (collections of eggs). A typical clutch contains around 5 eggs, though this varies by species. Domestic chickens are exceptional layers, with some breeds producing over 200 eggs annually!
2. Many Are Monogamous (But Not Chickens!)
Many fowl species mate with one partner for at least a breeding season. This is common in waterfowl like swans and geese. Chickens are a notable exception—one rooster typically mates with multiple hens.
3. They Have Active Young
Baby fowl are precocious, meaning they’re active almost immediately after hatching. Ducklings swim within days, and chicks start scratching and pecking right away.
4. Some Can Hybridize
Certain fowl species can interbreed, though the offspring aren’t always viable. Examples include chicken-pheasant and chicken-duck hybrids.
Other Types of Fowl You Might Know
Besides chickens, other common fowl include:
- Turkeys: Large birds raised for meat
- Pheasants: Often hunted for sport and food
- Quail: Small game birds with speckled feathers
- Ducks: Waterfowl known for their swimming ability
- Geese: Larger waterfowl often found near lakes and ponds
Chicken Terminology That Might Confuse You
While we’re clearing up confusion, let’s tackle some other chicken-related terms:
- Hen: An adult female chicken that lays eggs
- Pullet: A young female chicken that hasn’t started laying eggs yet
- Rooster/Cockerel: A male chicken
- Spent hen: An older female chicken that has stopped laying eggs
- Poultry: This refers to domesticated birds raised for meat or eggs, including chickens, turkeys, and ducks
Why Does This Distinction Matter?
You might be wondering why I’m making such a big deal about this difference. Well, using the right terminology helps when:
- Communicating with farmers or veterinarians: Using precise language ensures everyone understands what birds you’re talking about
- Reading farming or cooking instructions: Some care instructions or recipes may be specific to certain types of fowl
- Understanding regulations: Laws regarding raising birds often distinguish between different types of fowl
Don’t Confuse “Fowl” with “Foul”!
One more thing—be careful not to confuse “fowl” (the bird category) with “foul” (something spoiled or unpleasant). “Foul chicken” refers to chicken that has gone bad and is unsafe to eat, showing signs like:
- Strong, unpleasant odor
- Slimy or sticky texture
- Gray, green, or purple discoloration
This is completely different from fowl as a bird category!
Raising Your Own Fowl
If you’re thinking about raising your own fowl, chickens are usually the easiest to start with. They require less space than other fowl, are relatively low-maintenance, and provide both eggs and meat.
However, ducks and geese can be great options if you have a water source on your property. Each type of fowl has its own unique requirements and benefits.
So there ya have it! When someone talks about fowl, they’re referring to a whole class of birds including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and more. When they specifically mention chickens, they’re talking about those familiar backyard birds we raise for eggs and meat.
Remember the simple rule: all chickens are fowl, but not all fowl are chickens. It’s like saying all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares!
Have you ever raised any other types of fowl besides chickens? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
All you ever wish to know!
There is a lot of new chicken jargon that gets thrown around, which can be quite confusing, especially if you’ve never owned chooks before. Some years back I was quietly corrected by an elderly visiting poultry fancier that they were not to be called chickens but were fowl. This intrigued me and got me thinking. From what I see, read and hear “chicken” is the modern ‘go to’ word to describe our feathered friends that lay eggs in our backyards.
What is a fowl? What is a chicken? What is a pullet? What is a hen? What is a cockerel? What is a rooster?
The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary gives the definition of fowl as “a bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for example a chicken.” Poultry is defined by the same dictionary as “chickens, ducks and geese, kept for its meat and eggs.” “Poultry” is a term used for any kind of domesticated bird, captive-raised for its utility, and traditionally the word has been used to refer to wildfowl and waterfowl but not to cage birds such as songbirds and parrots. Poultry also includes other birds that are killed for their meat, such as the young of pigeons (squabs) but does not include similar wild birds hunted for sport or food and known as game.
If you think it is becoming a little confusing read on!
Colloquially, fowl and poultry are used interchangeably. However, fowl comprises of two biological orders of birds, landfowl (eg. chicken, quail and pheasant) and waterfowl (eg. duck, goose and swan). Studies have shown that both of them are close evolutionary relatives. Poultry, on the other hand refers to any domesticated bird raised for meat or/and eggs. Due to this difference in actual definition, however, there is no general relation between the two. Neither are all poultry birds fowl, nor do all fowl birds fall into the category of poultry. For example, poultry birds like chicken and turkey fall into the category of landfowl, while those like geese and duck fall into the category of waterfowl. But ostriches, sometimes domesticated for their eggs, are neither landfowl nor waterfowl; in short, ostriches arent fowl. When we say chicken (as we do a lot these days!) we are talking about a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one. Chicken is genderless. If we say hen then she is female, rooster is male, and chick refers to the younglings (of either sex). Cock is short for cockerel. When a cockerel is mature and part of a group of laying hens he has the privilege of being called a rooster (mature and over a year in age). So, what then is a “pullet”? Someone with a sense of humour wrote “It’s a teenage hen, not quite adult but not quite a chick either”. The dictionary defines a pullet as a young hen, one less than one year in age. Some definitions of pullet say it is a young female up to their first moult or when they start to lay but mostly we base it on age. When a pullet turns one she becomes a hen. Happy 1st Birthday!
Some more interesting word derivations: The word “poultry” comes from the French/Norman word poule, itself derived from the Latin word pullus, which means small animal. The word “poultry” comes from the Middle English “pultrie”, from Old French pouletrie, from pouletier, poultry dealer, from poulet, pullet. The word “pullet” itself comes from Middle English pulet, from Old French polet, both from Latin pullus, a young fowl, young animal or chicken. The word “fowl” is of Germanic origin (cf. Old English Fugol, German Vogel, Danish Fugl). Now that we have cleared all that confusion we can all use the correct terminology to describe our girls.
Jungle Fowl Facts: the WILD CHICKEN?! Animal Fact Files
FAQ
What is the difference between a chicken and a fowl?
The key difference is that “chicken” refers to a specific species of domesticated bird, while “fowl” is a broader, older term for any bird, especially those domesticated or hunted for meat and eggs. All chickens are fowl, but not all fowl are chickens. The term fowl encompasses chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, and other poultry and wild game birds.
What is the meaning of fowl chicken?
What kind of meat is fowl?
Fowl is a general term for the meat of various birds, including both domesticated types like chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys, and wild birds such as pheasants, quail, and guineafowl. While often used interchangeably with the term “poultry,” fowl can also refer to wild birds, whereas poultry specifically denotes domestic birds raised for their meat or eggs.
Does fowl taste like chicken?
However, the meat of other fowl often tastes nothing like chicken; for example, pheasant meat is described as a “unique” flavor and ostrich meat is considered very similar to beef. In fact, duck is often considered a red meat. Birds of prey are reported to taste different.