IXWORTH
The Ixworth chicken was created in 1932 by Reginald Appleyard in the small English Village of Ixworth. They were originally bred by combining the genetics of Sussex, Minorca, Indian Game and the Orpington chicken breeds. These birds are very cold hardy given their pea comb and almost non-existent wattles. The hens lay slightly less than a heritage Light Sussex with an egg between 50-60 grams
The Ixworth chickens we raise have been touted by the original importer as more of a meat bird than a dual purpose bird. The hens lay an appropriate amount of medium tinted brown egg and the additional males can be used for a slow food program typically exceeding the 16 week minimum of grow time required as a true heritage breed. This allows them time to develop flavour and texture while enjoying their time on pasture. Currently, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists them in the at risk category due to limited numbers and near collapse in the 1970's. We find them to be very regal in appearance. The males will fight a bit as the hens near point of lay at about 4.5 months of age but relatively quickly get the pecking order straightened out.
Soon after its creation as a top notch meat and egg producer, it was in decline nearly 10 years later. Like many other white breeds of poultry neared total extinction in the 1970's and now can be classified in the rare breeds group of poultry. In as much as the Ixworth rose to fame it came down just as hard given the American market was quickly advancing a bird that far exceeded the growth of any backyard dual purpose breed. And, we know it today as the industrial Cornish cross. The problem we could soon be facing by purchasing from hybrids and small pools of genetically selected broiler type of poultry is the demise of the modern strains as we know them. And one day, you might even see small farmers trying to revive lost lines of Hubbard or Ross broiler chickens that have succumbed to every white bird before it but the Poulet de Breese.
Judging from the Ixworth breeders that we got directly from Florida, their original imports might be housed with three or four different pools of genetic out crosses. We have let these diverse birds mingle with one another and they have produced varying offspring that you may want to include into your breeding program after you have selected what you desire. We recommend re-homing any birds that carry coloring other than white to stay true to the breeding standard. We also have the yellow skin version of Ixworth for the North American market. Our British counterparts prefer a white skinned breed of poultry while typically most North Americans prefer yellow. We offer both.
If you are looking for a preservation project then you should get an Ixworth. So far we are enjoying them and they are quite tasty. We are also working with Canadian and UK farms to secure the Ixworth’s long-term future by importing into the USA and Canada another line direct from the descendants of the Pure Reginald Appleyard Ixworths.
The Ixworth chickens we raise have been touted by the original importer as more of a meat bird than a dual purpose bird. The hens lay an appropriate amount of medium tinted brown egg and the additional males can be used for a slow food program typically exceeding the 16 week minimum of grow time required as a true heritage breed. This allows them time to develop flavour and texture while enjoying their time on pasture. Currently, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists them in the at risk category due to limited numbers and near collapse in the 1970's. We find them to be very regal in appearance. The males will fight a bit as the hens near point of lay at about 4.5 months of age but relatively quickly get the pecking order straightened out.
Soon after its creation as a top notch meat and egg producer, it was in decline nearly 10 years later. Like many other white breeds of poultry neared total extinction in the 1970's and now can be classified in the rare breeds group of poultry. In as much as the Ixworth rose to fame it came down just as hard given the American market was quickly advancing a bird that far exceeded the growth of any backyard dual purpose breed. And, we know it today as the industrial Cornish cross. The problem we could soon be facing by purchasing from hybrids and small pools of genetically selected broiler type of poultry is the demise of the modern strains as we know them. And one day, you might even see small farmers trying to revive lost lines of Hubbard or Ross broiler chickens that have succumbed to every white bird before it but the Poulet de Breese.
Judging from the Ixworth breeders that we got directly from Florida, their original imports might be housed with three or four different pools of genetic out crosses. We have let these diverse birds mingle with one another and they have produced varying offspring that you may want to include into your breeding program after you have selected what you desire. We recommend re-homing any birds that carry coloring other than white to stay true to the breeding standard. We also have the yellow skin version of Ixworth for the North American market. Our British counterparts prefer a white skinned breed of poultry while typically most North Americans prefer yellow. We offer both.
If you are looking for a preservation project then you should get an Ixworth. So far we are enjoying them and they are quite tasty. We are also working with Canadian and UK farms to secure the Ixworth’s long-term future by importing into the USA and Canada another line direct from the descendants of the Pure Reginald Appleyard Ixworths.
For Ixworth Chicken for sale, please visit our Price List page.
You can also check our Available Now for special offers.
You can also check our Available Now for special offers.