poulet

The French claim the finest chickens in the world, the volaille de Bresse. Little ones, or spring chickens, are poussins; a coquelet is a young rooster; a young hen is poulette.

A stuffed spring chicken might called a crapaud farci (stuffed toad!)

A coq is a cockeral, who might end up in coq au vin; a poule is a laying hen or older bird, perfect for a poule au pot. Pout if anyone calls you a poule mouillée (‘wet hen’)—a wimp.

Poularde and Chapons are plump neutered birds, often served on the holiday table.

A poulet jaune is a chicken that was fed partly on maize; they tend to be fatter than a poulet blanc, fed on wheat and alfalfa. A poulet fermier was raised on a farm rather than in a factory; elevée en plein aire means free range.

Chicken parts