Identikit and main features
The White hen of Saluzzo is a small-medium sized hen with a 4-6 teeth red crest consisting, which is erect in the cock and hanging in the female. The jowls and cheeks are red, while the beak is yellow as the skin. The plumage is white with golden reflections on the neck and on the back. Its tail is white. The males weight at least 2.5kg while the females 2.2kg. The shell of the eggs is white. Its meat is fine and jowls are often used to make the “finaniera”, a typical Piedmontese recipe.
Area of production
The area of production includes the municipality of Saluzzo and the territories included between the province of Cuneo and Turin.
History
The origin of this specie dates to the XIX century, when it was discovered a particular type of white hen , different from the others for the reduced size and the tasty meats. The White hen of Saluzzo was bred in in Saluzzo area during the marquisate and in territories nearby the Province of Turin .The municipality of Cavour, in particular, was the seat of an important poultry market, in which there have always been a significant sell of the Saluzzo hen, that, for this reason, is also known as “the white hen of Cavour”.
