Guide · Product
Chicken Paws vs Chicken Feet: What's the Difference?
Buyers often use “chicken paws” and “chicken feet” as if they were the same product. In the export trade they aren't — the cut point at the hock joint is what separates them, and it matters for price, yield and which market the product is destined for.
Where the cut is made
A paw is the foot only, cut at the hock joint — no shank, no leg meat. Skin, cartilage and small bones, with the cuticle removed. A chicken foot is cut further up the leg, so the piece includes part of the shank in addition to the foot. The extra shank changes the weight, the calibre distribution and how the piece is used in the kitchen. For background on the paw cut itself, see what are frozen chicken paws.
Side by side
Both cuts are typically processed to the same Grade A standard — IQF, cuticle removed, size-graded and packed in 10 kg cartons, around 26–27 MT per 40ft reefer container. The difference is the cut point and what it's used for.
| Paw | Foot | |
|---|---|---|
| Cut point | At the hock joint | Above the hock, includes shank |
| Composition | Skin, cartilage, small bones | Skin, cartilage, bone, some shank meat |
| Typical market | China, Hong Kong (“phoenix claws”) | Various — soups, stocks, regional dishes |
| Grade | A, IQF, cuticle removed | A, IQF, cuticle removed |
| Packaging | 10 kg carton, inner bags | 10 kg carton, inner bags |
Full calibre, glazing and defect limits for the paw cut are in our Grade A specification guide.
What to specify when you buy
State clearly in the RFQ and contract which cut you need — paw or foot — plus calibre (small, medium, large) and glazing percentage. Mixing up the terms is one of the most common causes of a shipment not matching a buyer's expectations. If your business needs the shank-included cut rather than the paw, see our chicken feet supplier page.
Buying paws or feet from Brazil
Duna Trading supplies Grade A frozen chicken paws and feet from SIF-registered, GACC-listed Brazilian plants, shipped worldwide under Incoterms 2020 (FOB · CFR · CIF), full −18 °C cold chain, DLC/SBLC payment (UCP 600) and inspection at loading. Tell us which cut, calibre and quantity you need and the São Paulo desk reverts with a quotation.