PLEASE NOTE THAT CHICKEN OF THE WOODS CULTIVATION IS STILL EXPERIMENTAL. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY GET FRUITING BODIES.
Most of our Chicken of the Woods strains are isolated from native stock on the East Coast of the U.S., meaning they prefer hardwoods, specifically varieties of Oak. This species is a polypore, with no gills, and is best harvested young by slicing the outermost tender, silky tissue on the tips, which can regenerate more tips if you go back and harvest a week or so later! Fruiting bodes range from light salmon to bright orange in color and wither white or yellow tube color depending on the species. This mushroom must be chopped and boiled in water, then tossing the water, and cooked like you normally would chicken. Olga and I like to soak it in organic chicken broth, then cook it into a curry dish or even cubed and breaded to make chicken nuggets. Chicken of the Woods mushrooms may take 2-3 years to fruit, but well worth the wait! Approximately 100 plugs by weight.
Chicken of the Woods “Phil” (White Pored) - Laetiporus gilbertsonii var. pallidus
Isolated from a White Oak stump on our friend Phil’s property in Georgia, this one will adapt to many oak species. Inoculate fresh cut stumps or rounds or you can stack oak rounds “iced” with sawdust spawn in between for best fruiting.Preferring White Oak, this species is a tender, silky tissued, juicy form of Chicken of the Woods that is salmon-orange with alpine white pores underneath that typically fruits in the fall.
Chicken of the Woods “Cherry” (Yellow-Pored) - Laetiporus sulphureus
What grows on Cherry wood? This new strain was found by folks like you and cloned to make spawn that everyone could use to inoculate Cherry trees and related species. This unique find is bright orange with yellow tubes underneath, and was found COVERING a standing dead cherry tree in Pennsylvania.
Chicken of the Woods "Enoree" (White-Pored) - Laetiporus cincinnatus
This species of chicken was found growing on an American Elm by our friend Scott in Enoree area of South Carolina.
Chicken of the Woods " Chatooga" (White-Pored) - Laetiporus cincinnatus
Found by our awesome employees Billie and Brandon in North Carolina, on an unknown hardwood. One of the most beautiful specimens I have ever seen.
Edibility and taste: Like white chicken meat, great texture
Grows on: Oaks, except for a few strains for Hemlock and Cherry, see above descriptions
Fruiting Temps: Varies, Spring to Fall
Availability: Year Round