Lamona
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Hauska Fakta
The Lamona is one of the only chicken breeds that breaks the universal poultry rule: 'red earlobes = brown eggs, white earlobes = white eggs'. Lamonas have bright red earlobes but lay chalk-white eggs — a genetic anomaly that baffled early poultry judges who assumed white-egg layers must have white earlobes.
A rare American dual-purpose breed developed by Harry S. Lamon at the USDA experimental station in Beltsville, Maryland, between 1912 and 1933. The Lamona was created by crossing Silver-Grey Dorkings, White Plymouth Rocks, and Single-Comb White Leghorns — an unusual combination that produced a bird with white plumage, yellow skin, a single comb, and red earlobes that nevertheless lays white-shelled eggs. This is significant because red earlobes typically indicate brown eggs — the Lamona breaks the earlobe-egg colour rule. The breed was designed to be the ideal American farm chicken: excellent egg production, good meat quality, calm temperament, and reliable autosexing at hatch. The Lamona was recognised by the APA in 1933 and briefly seemed poised to become America's dominant farm breed, but was overtaken by industrial hybrids and is now critically endangered. The EE does not yet formally recognise the Lamona.
🏷️ Rotu
Lamona
💭 Luonne
Calm, docile, friendly, good forager, cold-hardy
📏 Koko
Large (2.7-3.6 kg)
⏳ Elinikä
5-8 years
🎨 Värit
White plumage with yellow skin and red earlobes
🌍 Alkuperä
USA — Beltsville, Maryland; developed by H.S. Lamon 1912–1933, APA recognised 1933
🏠 Elinympäristö
Free-range or enclosed run; adaptable to temperate farm conditions
🍽️ Ravinto
Layer pellets; effective forager on pasture
🎯 Käyttötarkoitus
Dual Purpose
🥚 Munan väri
White
👑 Harjatyyppi
Single