The Asturian Painted Hen (also called the Pita Pinta Asturiana) is a rare breed that comes from Spain.
These large, colorful birds are good layers of cream-colored eggs. Hens may or may not go broody, but when they do, they make excellent mothers to their young.
The Asturian Painted Hen is known to live longer than other chicken breeds. They can reach four to five years of age and continue laying for the majority of that time.
They are a dual purpose breed with excellent quality meat, especially when raised free range and allowed to forage for insects and greenery.
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Asturian Painted Hen Chicken Breed Quick Info
Asturian Painted Hen Chicken Description
| Asturian Painted Hen Type/Size: | Standard |
| Feather Color: | Black mottled, red mottled, white, or black |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Yellow |
| Skin Color: | Yellow |
| Asturian Painted Hen Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Easy |
| Asturian Painted Hen Special Care Needs: | No |
| Is the Asturian Painted Hen breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Rare |
Asturian Painted Hen Use
| Meat | Yes |
| Eggs | Yes |
| Dual Purpose | Yes |
| Asturian Painted Hen Temperament: | Gentle, docile |
| Asturian Painted Hen Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Asturian Painted Hen Egg Production
| Egg Color | Cream |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 140 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | Medium |
Asturian Painted Hen Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | 7 ¾ lbs. |
| Dressed Weight Female | 5 lbs. |
Asturian Painted Hen Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Good |
| Cold | Good |
Asturian Painted Hen Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 5 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 5 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | 16 Weeks |
Asturian Painted Hen Size at Maturity
| Male | 9 ¼ lbs. |
| Female | 6 lbs. |
Origins of the Asturian Painted Hen Chicken
The Asturian Painted Hen originated in the Asturian region of northern Spain. In fact, it is the only chicken breed that is native to this area.
Their name comes from the Asturian dialect of Spanish; “pita” means hen, while “pinta” means mottled or painted.
They share ancestors with the Basque chicken.
After the industrialization of the Spanish egg industry in the mid-20th century, the Asturian Painted Hen nearly went extinct.
Today, only about 2,000 of these birds exist around the world. There is a breeders’ association committed to saving the breed and bringing up its numbers.
Some Things to Know About the Asturian Painted Hen Chicken
Asturian Painted Hens are known for their beautiful, striking feather patterns. They can be found in four colors: black mottled, red mottled, white, and non-mottled black.
They are medium-large birds that have compact frames. They boast a single red comb with five to seven points on it. Their earlobes and eyes are also bright red.
The legs of the Asturian Painted Hen are yellow with black spots, as is the beak. Their tail feathers are quite short compared to other breeds.
How Easy is it to Keep Asturian Painted Hen Chickens?
The Asturian Painted Hen breed is known to be calm and gentle, making them a great choice for pet chickens and being around children.
They are easy to handle, especially if they are around people from a young age.
They are easy to care for, with no common health issues or diseases to worry about. They are also excellent free-range birds. They enjoy foraging and roaming out in the open over confinement.
In fact, this is one of the characteristics that made them popular in Spain before the industrialization of the chicken industry. They were able to live a “natural” life outdoors while still producing a good amount of eggs.
Special Care and Considerations for Asturian Painted Hen Chickens
As with all birds with a single comb, frostbite can be an issue. When the temperature drops, you can help to protect their comb with a little bit of vaseline.
Due to their extremely rare status, the Asturian Painted Hen can be difficult to find. However, there are some breeders who sell chicks in the United States and abroad.
