The drumsticks, thighs, and breast carry the bulk of the meat. There is, however, a definite correlation between the covering of the flesh over the back and the amount of flesh on the rest of the carcass. Females almost invariably carry more flesh over the back and will generally have a more rounded appearance to the breast, thighs, and legs.

The common defects in fleshing are breasts that are Vshaped or concave, rather than full and rounded; breasts that are full near the wishbone, but taper sharply to the rear; legs and drumsticks that are thin; and backs that have insufficient flesh to cover the vertebrae and hip bones.