The Ixworth Chicken is on the rare breeds survival watchlist. The Ixworth should be in a free range environment as they are active foragers. It is a hardy breed with a quiet temperament. They appeal to free range/organic/traditional poultry keepers more than to regular show exhibitors, who might prefer breeds with a more interesting appearance.
The Ixworth breed was developed by Reginald Appleyard, beginning in 1931, and was officially introduced at the 1938 London Dairy Show. It was named after Appleyard’s birthplace, the village of Ixworth in Suffolk. His goal was to create a high-quality, fast-maturing table bird that would lay more eggs and avoid the utility issues commonly associated with the Indian Game breed.
To achieve this, he incorporated several breeds, including White Sussex, White Orpington, White Minorca, White Old English Game, Jubilee, and Dark Indian Game. The breed faced near extinction in the 1950s with the rise of faster-growing hybrid broilers. However, rare breed enthusiasts began reviving the Ixworth in the 1970s. Today, approximately 20 dedicated breeders maintain the breed, though only four regularly exhibit it.
