The Ixworth is a British breed of white domestic chicken. It is named for the village of Ixworth in Suffolk, where it was created in 1932. It was bred as fast-growing high-quality meat breed with reasonable laying abilities.

History

The Ixworth was created in 1932 by Reginald Appleyard, who also created the Silver Appleyard Duck, at his poultry farm in the village of Ixworth in Suffolk. It was bred from white Sussex, white Minorca, white Orpington and several variants of Indian Game, with the intention of creating a dual-purpose breed, a fast-growing high-quality meat bird with reasonable egg-laying ability. An Ixworth bantam was created in 1938; Appleyard thought it better than the standard-sized bird.

In the 1970s the Ixworth almost disappeared; it has since gradually recovered. It is a rare breed: in 2007 it was listed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "endangered-maintained". In 2008 it was listed as "Category 2: endangered" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and in 2014 was on the Trust's list of native poultry breeds at risk.

Characteristics

The plumage of the Ixworth is pure white. The comb is of pea type; it and the face, earlobes and wattles are brilliant red. The eyes are bright orange or red. The beak, shanks, feet, skin and flesh are all white.

In a comparative study conducted at the Roslin Institute in 2003, Ixworth hens were found to reach a live weight of at 55 weeks, and to lay on average 0.74 eggs per day, with an average egg weight of .

The meat commands premium prices.

References APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.

Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to: The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . Archived 23 June 2020.

P.M. Hocking, M. Bain, C.E. Channing, R. Fleming, S. Wilson (2003). Genetic variation for egg production, egg quality and bone strength in selected and traditional breeds of laying fowl. British Poultry Science 44 (3): 365–373. . .

Breed data sheet: Ixworth / United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed May 2025.

Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.

Chris Graham (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. London: Hamlyn. .

Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.

Chickens. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.

Native Poultry Breeds at Risk. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 1 July 2014.

Poultry: Ixworth: 2008 Watchlist; Category 2, Endangered. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 24 June 2008.

Victoria Roberts (2008). British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. .