The Thrill of the Hunt: Finding Chicken of the Woods

As all foragers know, no matter how young, old, green, or experienced you are, there are few feelings that compare to finding a species you’ve set your sights on. Whether you’ve been searching for 30 minutes or 30 years, it always feels worth it — especially when it’s edible.

I had the pleasure of finding this spectacular Laetiporus sulphureus specimen (commonly known as Chicken of the Woods) while visiting family in Scotland. It wasn’t a planned expedition for mushrooms, but on our way, I had an epiphany.

I checked the season.
I checked the historical climate.
I checked local reports.
And then for the proceeding journey, I checked EVERY single oak tree I could find.

As I’m sure many foragers have experienced, the family I was walking with thought I was completely mad when I suggested we eat these bright orange-yellow mushrooms for dinner, but a small amount was harvested and cooked in place of chicken, while leaving plenty to allow for reproduction and to make sure future generations get a chance.

When beginning the hunt for new fungi species, they rarely present themselves immediately. Until you understand how they grow, and why they grow, it will always be a challenge.

Overcoming that hurdle is fun, but finding 100's after, that’s when the real fun begins!
This was an adventure I will always remember.

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How to Identify Chicken of the Woods

Chicken of the Woods is one of the more recognisable edible fungi — but proper identification is still essential.

Key Features:

• Bright orange upper surface

• Sulphur-yellow underside

• Shelf-like or bracket growth pattern

• Polypore (No true gills, it has tiny pores/tubes underneath instead)

• Pliable, fleshy texture when young

As it ages, the colour fades and the texture becomes leathery and taste becomes acrid — these older specimens are best avoided.

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What Trees Does It Grow On?

Understanding host trees is crucial when identifying Laetiporus species.

Most commonly, Chicken of the Woods grows on:

• Oak

• Beech

• Chestnut

• Cherry

• Yew (CAUTION)
  
• Eucalyptus sp. (CAUTION)

In North America and Europe, different Laetiporus species may prefer slightly different hardwoods, but hardwood hosts are the general rule.

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⚠️ Caution

While Chicken of the Woods is considered a choice edible by many, proper identification and harvest practice are essential.

Always confirm:

• The mushroom colour, and texture.

• It has pores underneath (not gills)

• It is growing on an appropriate host tree

Avoid harvesting:

• Old, pale, leathery specimens.

• Specimens growing on conifers

• Specimens growing on Yew trees (toxic needles can hide inside the mushroom)

• Specimens growing on Eucalypts (GI upset from oils)

A Special Note on Yew

In parts of Europe, Chicken of the Woods has been found growing on yew. Yew trees are highly toxic and contain dangerous alkaloids in their bark, wood, and especially their needles.

While the mushroom itself is not automatically poisonous simply because it grows on yew, there are risks:

• Toxic yew needles can become lodged between the shelves

• Small fragments of bark or plant material may contaminate the harvest

For this reason, many experienced foragers choose to avoid harvesting specimens growing on yew altogether. Eucalypts are not inherently toxic, but these mushrooms when growing on eucalypt do cause GI distress, leading to nausea, vomiting etc.

As always:

If in doubt, throw it out.