Lamona facts for kids
Illustration of a Lamona pullet from 1933
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| Country of origin | United States |
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| Traits | |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Egg color | white |
| Comb type | single |
| Classification | |
| APA | American |
| ABA | single comb clean legged |
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The Lamona is a special type of chicken from America. It was created starting in 1912 by a man named Harry S. Lamon. He was an expert in chickens for the U.S. government. He worked at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.
Contents
History of the Lamona Chicken
How the Lamona Breed Started
Harry S. Lamon was a top chicken expert for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a government group that helps farmers and makes sure our food is safe. Starting in 1912, he worked at a research center in Beltsville, Maryland.
He wanted to create a new chicken breed. This new breed needed to be good at laying eggs. But it also needed to be good for meat after it stopped laying eggs. Most chickens are either good for eggs or good for meat, but not both.
To do this, he mixed three different chicken breeds. He crossed white Plymouth Rocks, silver-gray Dorkings, and white Leghorns.
Becoming a Recognized Breed
In 1933, the Lamona chicken was officially recognized. This happened when it was added to the Standard of Perfection. This book lists all the rules for different chicken breeds. It is published by the American Poultry Association.
Later, in 1960, a smaller version of the Lamona was also recognized. This smaller chicken is called a bantam Lamona.
Saving the Lamona Breed
By the 1980s, there were very few Lamona chickens left. They were almost extinct. Some dedicated chicken breeders worked hard to keep the breed going. One of these breeders was Marion Nash from Illinois.
In 2005, a group called the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy reported that a few groups of Lamona chickens still existed. However, by 2013, they could no longer find any chickens that were directly from the original Lamona breed. This means the original Lamona chicken might be gone.
Lamona Chicken Characteristics
What Lamona Chickens Look Like
Lamona chickens are bigger than the light Leghorn chickens. But they are smaller than the large Plymouth Rock and Dorking chickens. They have yellow skin. Their feathers are white. This makes them good meat birds, especially in the U.S. market.
Unique Features
Lamona chickens have a single comb on their heads. This is the fleshy red part on top of a chicken's head. They also have red earlobes. This is interesting because most chickens that lay white eggs have white earlobes.
Dual Purpose: Eggs and Meat
One special thing about Lamona chickens is their dual purpose. They are good at laying white eggs. But even after they stop laying eggs, their meat stays tender. This is different from many egg-laying chickens, whose meat can become tough.
