The Lamona is an American breed of domestic chicken developed in the early 20th century. It was created as a dual-purpose bird intended for both egg production and meat use. The breed originated at a United States government experimental station in Beltsville, Maryland.

Origin and Recognition

Development and Purpose
The Lamona was developed by Harry S. Lamon, a senior poultry expert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His goal was to create an ideal American chicken that combined strong egg production with good meat qualities.

The breeding program began in 1912 and involved crossing Silver Gray Dorkings, White Plymouth Rocks, and Single Comb White Leghorns. The intention was to produce a bird that would lay abundant white eggs, possess a well-fleshed body suitable for the table, and maintain desirable physical traits such as yellow skin and white plumage for a visually appealing body.

A distinctive feature of the Lamona is its red earlobes despite laying white eggs, which is unusual among chicken breeds. This characteristic helped differentiate it from White Leghorns and was considered an important breeding achievement.

Physical Characteristics

The breed was designed to produce a bird with a high proportion of desirable white breast meat. Its white feathers help reduce the visibility of pinfeathers when processed.

Size and Weights
Large Fowl:

Bantam:

Egg Production

Lamonas were bred to lay consistently throughout the year, including winter months, and to remain productive before being used as a meat bird.

Temperament and Hardiness

Utility and Classification
The Lamona was intended to function as a general-purpose farm chicken, producing eggs for a period before being processed for meat. It yields a moderately tender carcass even after its laying cycle.

Historical Significance and Popularity
By the early 1920s, the Lamona gained significant recognition for its productivity, with documented cases of hens laying over 250 eggs annually. It was widely regarded as a promising “all-purpose” chicken for American agriculture.

However, as poultry production became more industrialized, specialized hybrid birds for either meat or egg production replaced dual-purpose breeds. This shift led to a steady decline in Lamona populations.

Decline and Near Extinction
By the 1970s, the Lamona had become rare, and by the 1980s it was widely believed to be extinct. Reports in the early 2000s suggested the possible existence of a few isolated flocks, but no confirmed populations of the original line were identified.

Recreation and Modern Status
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, efforts were made to recreate the Lamona using the original documented breeding formula. Due to detailed historical records, the recreated birds are considered very close in genetics and appearance to the original strain.

Today’s Lamonas reflect the original vision: a white-feathered, yellow-skinned, dual-purpose chicken with strong egg production and good meat qualities.