Meaning
Literally a free-ranging yard chicken that scratches around the home — tougher and tastier than a coop-raised bird, and, as proverb notes, not hard to catch since it stays close. Figuratively, and cuttingly, a 'yard fowl' is a political sycophant: someone who follows a party or 'big man' for the scraps they're fed, clucking loyally wherever the feed is thrown.
Examples
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Di yard fowl dem a scratch round di kitchen.
The yard chickens are scratching around the kitchen.
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Yard fowl sweeter dan di store chicken.
Yard chicken is tastier than store-bought chicken.
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Him a jus a yard fowl fi di party.
He's just a yard fowl for the party.
Political insult: a follower who chases the party's handouts.
Origin
'yard' (home/premises) + 'fowl'. See [[fowl]], [[peel-neck-fowl]].
How it’s used
A free-range yard chicken; figuratively a political sycophant who follows for the handout.