How many lbs is a whole chicken

In this article we will look at the different yields of meat you can expect to get from a chicken , based on both raw and cooked whole chickens.

So how much meat is there on a whole chicken? A general yield you can expect to get from a whole raw chicken after the bones have been removed is approximately 65% of the weight of the chicken. The yield from a whole cooked chicken drops to approximately 45% of the weight of the raw chicken. So a 3lb/1.36kg Whole Chicken would yield about 2lbs/0.9kg raw meat or 1.4lbs/0.6kg cooked meat.

Whole Raw Chicken Meat Yield

The yield of meat you get from a whole chicken depends on what parts of the chicken you are going to use and eat.

Obviously you will get a slightly higher yield if you are going to be leaving the skin on, than you will if you remove it.

If you just remove the bones, you can expect to get a yield of about 65% of the weight of the whole chicken.

Generally you can expect to lose another 5% if you remove the skin, and so the yield will drop to approximately 60% of the weight of the chicken.

Age and rearing techniques will also be a factor in the yield you will get, with older birds yielding less meat.

Below is a chart that gives you the approximate yield from store bought chickens ranging from 3 – 6 lbs in weight.

Whole Chicken Meat Yield Chart

A Chart Showing Different Meat Yeilds For Whole ChickensWhole Chicken Meat Yield Chart

Meat Yield From Chicken Portions

If you are buying chicken portions, you will get a slightly different yield depending on the chicken parts you get.

Chicken breasts yield a slightly higher meat yield than the legs but are also more expensive.

If you don’t mind eating the leg meat from a chicken, it is probably more economical for you to buy the legs, even though the yield is a little less than the breast meat.

Here is a chart showing the yield percentage of meat you can expect to get on average from the different chicken portions.

Chicken Portion Meat Yield Chart

Meat Yield Percentage Chart For Chicken PortionsMeat Yield Chart For Chicken Portions

Hopefully these two charts have given you an understanding of how much meat you can expect to get from a whole chicken, as well as the different chicken portions.

By following these guides, you should now be able to ensure you have the right amount of meat for the amount of people you are serving.

The smallest adult chicken can be as small as 1.1 pounds while the largest can get up to 13 pounds depending on their breed; there are rare exceptions that go beyond this scale. A chicken’s potential weight is predetermined by their breed but feeding regimens and habitats can cause variants.

Table of Contents

  • What Are The Heaviest Chicken Breeds?
  • What Are The ​Lightest Chicken Breeds?
  • Have They Always Weighed The Same?
  • Why Has It Changed So Much?
  • How Much Does A Hen Weigh?
  • What Is The Average Weight Of A Whole Chicken?
  • What Is The Approximate Weight Of A Chicken?
  • How Many Grams Does A Chicken Weigh?
  • How To Weigh A Chicken
  • What Is A Approximate Weight Of A Chicken Egg?
  • What Size Chicken Should I Get For A Family Of 4?
  • How Heavy Is An Egg Without Shell?
  • What’s The Average Weight Of A Male Broiler Chicken?
  • How Much Does A 47 Day Old Chicken Weigh?
  • How Much Should A 4 Week Old Chicken Weigh?
  • How Much Does A Female Layer Chicken Weigh?
  • How Much Does A Chicken Weigh On Average?
  • What Is The Average Mature Weight Of Chicken?
  • What Is The Weight Of An Average Chicken In Kilogram?

The weight of a chicken is not a simple question to answer. There are so many different factors that influence the weight of a chicken. While the one that you roast for dinner weighs a certain amount, the one that laid the eggs for your breakfast weighs a totally different amount. 

It takes about a year for a chicken to reach full size. Under this age, hens are called “pullets” and males are called “cockerels.” Chickens raised for meat are usually slaughtered at this age as the meat has a more tender texture and milder flavor than an older bird. A fryer, or meat chicken, will usually weigh 4.5 to 5 pounds at slaughter. Depending on the breed, this could be quite a bit smaller than the chicken’s natural full size. However, fryers do tend to grow at a faster rate than other chicken breeds. 

What Are The Heaviest Chicken Breeds?

​Generally speaking, the heavier chicken breeds tend to be those that are raised specifically for their meat. This makes sense, as the intention is to get as much meat from the chicken as possible in a very short amount of time. However, ​premature slaughtering ​of chickens results in them weighing much less than their maximum potential weight.

Among the heaviest chicken breeds are Brahma, Cochin, Orpington, and Jersey Giant chickens. All of these breeds are quite sizable, averaging between 8 and 10 pounds at their fully-grown size.

What Are The ​Lightest Chicken Breeds?

On the other end of the spectrum are chickens that weigh very little. Chicken breeds such as the Cubalaya, Ancona, California Gray, and Leghorn have hens below 5 pounds and roosters below 6 pounds. These smaller breeds tend to be used as egg producers, but are sometimes also used for their meat depending on growth rate and quality of the meat.

Have They Always Weighed The Same?

Did you know that the average weight of a chicken today is a lot different to 50 years ago? Over the decades, the average weight of a chicken has changed a lot. 

Chickens are bred most often for either egg production or for meat. As you might imagine, this factor influences the weight of the particular breed. And for a number of reasons, including selective breeding, chickens have become much heavier. 

Why Has It Changed So Much?

Selective breeding is the practice of breeding only chickens that have a particular trait that you want to replicate. So if you want a chicken with red feathers, you only breed chickens with red feathers. That way, there is more chance that the baby chickens will only have red feathers. The more you do this, the more chance you will have of only getting red feathered chickens from a fresh batch. 

How Much Does A Hen Weigh?

No two chickens are the same of course, and average weights vary between breeds. 

Typically, standard adult hens should be between 2.5kg and 4kg. Bantams (smaller chickens) are usually around 1kg.

We’ve included a handy breakdown below of the most common UK breeds and their expected weights to give you a better idea.

What Is The Average Weight Of A Whole Chicken?

The average weight of a whole chicken in 2020 is between 5 and 10 pounds (2-4.5 kg’s). Things such as breed, age, weight, and gender all play a part in the weight of a chicken.

What Is The Approximate Weight Of A Chicken?

​Taking into account all of the weights of the different breeds of chickens in existence, the average weight of a chicken tends to be around 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) for hens and 7.5 pounds (3.4 kg) for roosters. However, there is a lot of variability in this number, with some chickens weighing under 4 pounds and others weighing well over 10 pounds.

How much meat is on a 5 lb chicken?

The average supermarket chicken weights between 3.5 to 5 pounds. If you are eating the whole bird then you'll have between 1.8 to 3 pounds of “meat”. (That will include even the skin). Remember this numbers are raw meat only considering the weight loss from the bones.

How many pounds of meat do you get from a whole chicken?

Using a rotisserie chicken: The average rotisserie chicken is about 2 pounds. The whole chicken will make about 3 cups of chicken- this is about 2 cups of white meat and 1 cups of dark meat. White meat comes from the chicken breast and wings. Dark meat comes from the thighs and drumsticks.

What size chicken for 7 adults?

A 2 ½ to 4 pound whole chicken will serve approximately three to four people. Roasting Chicken: A 4 to 7 pound chicken will serve approximately five to seven people.

What size chicken for 6 adults?

An average-size chicken weighs about 1.5kg and will feed 4 people. If you're cooking for 5 or 6, go for a 1.8kg-2kg bird.