There are many different varieties of chicken available to buy. The most common ones are listed below: Roasting chicken or broiler The most common variety available, they are farmed and sold at a weight of 3 5 pounds. These birds are suitable for all types of cooking. Double Poussin A roasting chicken sold at a weight of 2 pounds. This smaller bird is best simply roasted or pot roasted. Poussin The smallest chicken available at 1 pound in weight. A small bird best roasted or pot roasted. Corn or maize fed chicken These chickens have been raised on a diet of corn or maize which gives there flesh a rich flavour. Simple roasting or grilling is best to retain the flavour. Free range chicken Ideally these should be the best of all, but unless you know for sure they are farmyard reared, this is not the case.