Poultry refers to domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of harvesting useful animal products such as meat, eggs, or feathers. The term "poultry" covers a wide range of birds, including chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, quails, pigeons, ostriches, and pheasants. Poultry farming is the practice of raising poultry. The word "poultry" comes from Middle English pultry or pultrie, itself derived from the Old French/Norman word pouletrie.
Poultry can be raised for various purposes, including food, fiber, or entertainment. Chickens are by far the leading species of poultry raised throughout the world, accounting for about 94% of the worlds poultry population in 2020. Other types of poultry, such as ducks, guinea fowl, geese, and turkeys, can also be found in all types of poultry systems, both large and small.
It is worth noting that the term "poultry" excludes birds raised in confinement for hunting.
