The domestic fowl, known by the tseltal people and the tsotsil people by the name of alak and mut' or sometimes like k'ax lan is extensively used in the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The reasons of this extensive use are: the nutritional importance by the eggs and meat, the economical role by the sale in the local community and local markets and, also the ethnomedical importance, since was used in healing rituals, where the hen soul is exchanged with the patient's ch'ulel (the local conception of soul), since this was kidnapped by the Lord of the Earth and produce the illness. We saw a differential hen's use based on its color: white, black, red and other colors. Finally, we saw that the local population distinguishes between 7 and 18 byotipes in each community. Altogether there were 18 byotipes among the tsotsil people and there were 21 byotipes among the tseltal people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]