What makes a chicken different from a foul? Chickens are domesticated fowl, but a foul is a superorder of birds. This is the main difference between a fowl and a chicken. In essence, a chicken is a type of bird, although not all fowl are chickens. Keep reading to know more.
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Fowl chicken is a term that often causes confusion, as many people use the words “fowl” and “chicken” interchangeably. However, while all chickens are fowl, not all fowl are chickens. So what exactly is the difference, and what does “fowl chicken” really mean?
Defining Fowl
Fowl refers to any domesticated bird kept for meat, eggs, or feathers. The term encompasses several bird species, including
- Chickens
- Ducks
- Geese
- Turkeys
- Guinea fowl
- Pheasants
So fowl is a broad category that includes both landfowl (like chickens) and waterfowl (like ducks). It can refer to the species as a whole or the meat derived from that species. For example, you may see “chicken fowl” on a restaurant menu, indicating the meat comes from a chicken.
Characteristics of Fowl
Even though different types of fowl have their own traits, there are some things that set them apart from other birds.
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Domesticated – All fowl are domesticated, having been bred specifically for human use over hundreds or thousands of years. Wild relatives still exist for some fowl, like junglefowl for chickens.
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Flightless – Selective breeding has made many fowl species flightless or weak flyers compared to their wild ancestors. This includes chickens, turkeys, and some ducks and geese.
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Meat and Egg Producers – The primary purpose of domesticating fowl was as a source of meat and eggs for human consumption. They are efficient prolific producers.
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Precocial Young: Unlike songbirds and doves, fowl chicks can move around and eat on their own soon after they hatch. This quality makes them easy to raise in captivity.
So, while fowl have some things in common, each species shows unique traits, such as the web-footed duck being different from the chicken.
Defining Chicken
Chicken refers specifically to the domesticated Red Junglefowl species, scientific name Gallus gallus domesticus. Chickens are a type of poultry and a subcategory of landfowl.
Some key identifying traits of chickens include:
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Originated in Southeast Asia from wild junglefowl ancestors
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Weigh 2-10 pounds depending on breed
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Have feathers, wings, wattles, and a comb
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Lay eggs prolifically
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Have a high-arched tail
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Come in varied plumage colors and patterns
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Are the most common fowl species raised worldwide
So chickens are just one of many species encompassed under the broad term “fowl.” Their domestication history sets them apart from wild junglefowl despite their shared lineage.
What is Fowl Chicken?
Now we can clearly define what is meant by “fowl chicken.”
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Fowl chicken refers specifically to the domesticated chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus.
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It differentiates chickens from other fowl like ducks, geese, and turkeys.
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If you call a chicken a “fowl,” it makes a point of being related to other domesticated bird species that are raised for meat and eggs.
Differentiating Terms
To recap the key terminology:
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Fowl – General term for all domesticated birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys
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Chicken – Specific domesticated Red Junglefowl species (Gallus gallus domesticus)
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Fowl Chicken – Refers exclusively to domesticated chickens
While fowl is a much broader category, chicken narrowly defines one particular species. Calling a chicken “fowl” acknowledges their similarities while still distinguishing chickens as unique.
The terminology may seem subtle, but there are clear scientific differences between calling a bird a fowl versus a chicken. Fowl encompasses all poultry species, whereas chicken refers to just one, the ubiquitous Gallus gallus domesticus raised globally. The term fowl chicken eliminates any ambiguity by specifying the domesticated chicken. So the next time you see “fowl chicken” on a menu or recipe, you can confidently know it means the same birds roosting in coops across the world!
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.
The number of chickens in the world changes all the time, but the website Statista says there are about 22 billion of them right now.
Chickens make up the majority of domesticated birds and poultry in the world today. This is because people eat their meat and eggs and some even keep them as pets.
Before they were kept as food, chickens were used for cockfighting and were often seen in religious settings. 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.
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.
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 kind of meat is fowl?
Fowl meat comes from domesticated birds that are raised for food. These birds are also called poultry. This includes birds like chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
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.
What qualifies as a fowl?
In this case, a fowl is a bird that can be eaten, like a duck or a chicken.