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The Ixworth is an English 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, Jubilee, Indian Game and white Indian Game chickens, 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 FAO 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 4.03 kg at 55 weeks, and to lay on average 0.74 eggs per day, with an average egg weight of 61.0 g.

The meat commands premium prices.

References

1. ^ Native Poultry Breeds at Risk. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 1 July 2014.
2. ^ Chris Graham (2006). Choosing and Keeping Chickens. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 9780600614388.
3. ^ 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. ISBN 9781405156424.
4. Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
5. ^ Chickens. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
6. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (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: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed October 2014.
7. ^ Poultry: Ixworth: 2008 Watchlist; Category 2, Endangered. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 24 June 2008.
8. 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. doi:10.1080/0007166031000085535. (subscription required).

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