Poussin (chicken)

A poussin ready for the oven

In Commonwealth countries, poussin (pronounced /ˈpuːsæn/ and sometimes, less commonly called coquelet) is a butcher's term for a young chicken, less than 28 days old at slaughter and usually weighing 400-450 grammes but not above 750g. It is sometimes also called spring chicken, although the term spring chicken usually refers to chickens weighing 750-850g.

In the United States of America, poussin is an alternative name for a small-sized cross-breed chicken called Rock Cornish game hen, developed in the late 1950s, which is twice as old and twice as large as the typical British poussin.

See also

• Spatchcock

Sources

• The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair' definition of poussin and coquelet
• The British Assured Food Standards organisation's definition of poussin.