Species library · Mushrooms

Foraging Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus portentosus

Typically in season from September to December in the northern hemisphere. Found in Woodland, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus portentosus)

Photo: (c) Steve Llewellyn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steve Llewellyn · iNaturalist

When Chicken of the Woods is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak September to December. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Chicken of the Woods is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Australian bracket fungus, Chicken of the woods, Red-belted conk. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Chicken of the Woods into the field

Open Chicken of the Woods in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Chicken of the Woods: common questions

When is Chicken of the Woods in season?

Chicken of the Woods is generally in season from September to December in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Chicken of the Woods grow?

Chicken of the Woods is usually found in Woodland, Woodland edges.

Is Chicken of the Woods safe to forage?

Similar species: Australian bracket fungus, Chicken of the woods, Red-belted conk. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits