Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae, especially the order Galliformes. "Poultry" can be defined as domestic fowls, including chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks, raised for the production of meat or eggs and the word is also used for the flesh of these birds used as food. The Encyclopædia Britannica lists the same bird groups but also includes guinea fowl and squabs (young pigeons). All of the different types of poultry can be organized into four categories: landfowl, waterfowl, game and others. For simplicity, you can place them into three general categories: Laying, meat-producing and dual-purpose breeds.
Laying Breeds: These breeds are known for their egg-laying capacity. ... Meat Breeds: ... Dual-Purpose Breeds: ... Turkeys, Game Birds and Other Poultry.
A large variety of poultry products (meat, eggs, feathers, goose fat, foie gras, and skin) is one of the factors contributing to the development of poultry production.