• Home
  • About
    • Our Story- Sunbird Farms
    • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Our Birds
    • American Bresse
    • Faverolles
    • Light Sussex
    • Pita Pinta
  • Store
  • Sunbird Cellars Poultry
    • Artisanal Pastured Poultry
    • Pastured Eggs
  • Organic Feed
  • The Blog
  • Cart

Sunbird Farms

Artisanal Farming, Slow Food & Family

Pita Pinta

The Pita Pinta (Asturian Hen)

Pita Pintas at Sunbird Farms

Literally translated, the Painted Hen, the Pita Pinta is the only chicken indigenous to the autonomous Asturias region of Northern Spain. On the Bay of Biscay, this proud area of Spain is north of Portugal and west of France. Boasting both rugged coasts and lushly vegetated mountains, it is one of the most well conserved areas of the country…full of “wild spaces.” It should be no surprise that such an area, known for centuries for its agricultural prowess, should be the home of such a magnificent bird!

The Pedigree

Like their cousin the Basque hen, they are a hardy dual-purpose breed from a legendary and independent people. However, Pita Pintas are incredibly easy to handle. The come in a variety of color patterns. At Sunbird Farms, we have the Negra (black/white mottled) and the Roxa (red/white mottled). They are excellent layers of large, cream-colored eggs. Notably, some of the eggs have a nearly pink hue, which we adore.  

The Roxa lay a slightly “toastier” egg

Pita Pinta
The “pinkish” Negra egg

Traditionally, these excellent foragers are reputed for their delicious meat. A medium-weight chicken, the prowess of the Pita Pinta is pasturing. They were the prize of the farm, capable of living a completely natural life while delivering copious amounts of eggs. Once ready for the table, the dish of choice was the pitu de caleya, a stew of sorts with new potatoes. (We love the Spanish preparation of covering small potatoes in very briny water and letting them boil down to “wrinkly potatoes… mmmm.)

The Fall

In spite of their ethnocentric nature, even Asturians were not immune to the siren song of “improved” industrial breeds. Indeed, in the mid-to-late twentieth century, as agricultural labor was consolidating into professional groups like the Gijón Farmers Cooperative, dual-purpose breeds like the Pita Pinta started to lose ground. Quickly, the hybridized egg machine and meat mountains replaced the pastoral poultry of Asturia.

In the end, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that some specimens were located in the Leon area for protection. Like the Basque Hen, the Pita Pinta was relegated to a few regional farms and nearly lost to history.

Our Negra Pitas in the orchard
A young Roxa cockerel

The Pita Pinta Today

Today, the Pita Pinta is finding its way into the hearts of conservationists, hobby farmers, and pastured-poultry enthusiasts. Fortunately, while fewer than 2,000 currently exist on the planet, the breed is gaining some ground.

According to the Pita Pinta breed association (ACPPA), there are just over 52 breeders and just under 1900 birds. While most of the birds are located in their native Spain, they are also available in the U.S., France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany. As long as poultry enthusiasts and food aficionados can appreciate a pasturing marvel, there is hope for the Pita Pinta.

Sunbird Farms couldn’t find a bird better suited for our efforts. Enjoying the Valley’s climate at the foot of the Sierra’s, our orchards tailor-made for these beauties.

The Details

Medium-Large Fowl

  1. Rooster: 4-4.5kg (9-10lbs.)
  2. Hen: 2.7kg (6lbs.)
  3. Eggs: “Toasted Cream” or pink-toned, Large
  4. Comb: Straight
  5. Ears: Red
  6. Skin color: Yellow
  7. Legs: Yellow, mottled
  8. Feathering: Tight, Mottled Black & White (Other colors exist)
  9. Origin: Austurias (Northern Spain)

See our Store for availability of hatching eggs and chicks, or email us at: orders@sunbirdfarms.com

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Connect with Us

Sunbird Farms

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Meet Larry the Lamona
  • The Lamona- Fowl Feature #6
  • The American Bresse Chicken Adventure Continues… 2,946 Days Later
  • The Pita Pinta- Fowl Feature #7
  • Swedish Flower Hens…Fall in the San Joaquin Valley

Categories

Archives

Other Sites I read

Providence Farm
Valley Fog Farms
The Contrary Farmer
Young, Broke, & Talented
Scratch Cradle

Top Posts & Pages

  • Lessons Learned about the American Bresse...Two Years On
    Lessons Learned about the American Bresse...Two Years On
  • Black Copper Marans chicken, Fowl Feature #4
    Black Copper Marans chicken, Fowl Feature #4
  • The French Barbezieux at Sunbird Farms
    The French Barbezieux at Sunbird Farms
  • On eating the "World's Best Tasting Chicken"... and other fall adventures...
    On eating the "World's Best Tasting Chicken"... and other fall adventures...
  • Chicken "X" Revealed!!!...the Delaware!
    Chicken "X" Revealed!!!...the Delaware!

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2025 · Style theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 · Style Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...