Hi there! This is a fun idea! We’ve definitely been busy this spring. So far it’s the best year we’ve had in both Lamona sales and our own production for both our meat and breeding program.
So I’d love if another of us chimed in with their perspective. From what I understand, there are maybe six currently selling. But the scoop is, Lamonas went basically extinct at the turn of the century, dropping down to just a few hens left of the breed. But Steve Gerdes- an expert in Lamonas-...
I thought it was high time to start a thread on here, since it seems all the other Lamona threads are pretty outdated, and the current economic climate is driving a renewed demand for sustainable meat breeds. I’ll introduce myself as a newer breeder, I’ve had my Lamonas for 4 years, they’re a...
Maybe not, but there is growing interest in Lamonas, and as one of the few breeders of them who visits this site, I like to answer questions occasionally for anyone who may be researching them.
That’s half true, and pretty outdated information. Steve Gerdes got the last few hens of the original line back around the turn of the century, and bred them to his best rooster created with Lamon’s original formula. The best resulting rooster was bred back to the original hens. After Gerdes’...
Sorry, bud. But that doesn’t look remotely like mine or any other Lamona hens I’ve seen. Lamona hens are much squatter, short legs, shorter neck, pure white,
Sorry to disappoint, but that doesn’t look remotely like a Lamona hen. Squattier build, short legs, shorter neck, pure white….. sorry...
I have Lamonas, as does a Cranberg in OK and I believe Scheckler (sp?) here in NY near me. I know I will have limited availability this year, not sure about the others.
It’s my understanding that Greenfire quit selling them because word got out that they were hatchery quality and were presenting some genetic defects as a result. Their remaining stock was dispersed to other breeding programs, and from my experience, the breeding of their birds into other...
Just a warning: Colonial Wattlesburg is selling mixed Lamonas. She admitted as much when I pressed her about it, looking for pure Lamonas to add to my breeding program. I’m sure they’re similar if you just want a good meat bird, but a big no-no for mixing with my purebreds, and I was NOT...
Probably too late to be of help to you, but for anyone else who may be on here researching Lamonas…..
I’ve been raising Lamonas for 3 years now in zone 5, Finger Lakes region, NY. Our winters get down to negative 20, frequently fluctuate as much as 40 degrees in a matter of hours, and can often...
I have Lamonas. Highly recommend them both for meat and egg production. If you can get through the initial sticker shock, they do end up earning their keep.
I have Lamonas now and love them. I’ve never had Bresse, so I can’t compare there, but they are better than Orpingtons, Rangers, Chanteclers, Delaware’s, and Dorking for both meat and egg production.
Yes. I have a small flock. I was told by someone close to Gerdes that the “recreated” Lamona is actually a very high percentage of the original Lamona. It was created by breeding the last of the originals with a few recreation line birds, and then breeding the offspring back to the originals. I...
I just started breeding Lamonas last year. My rooster did very well over winter with just a couple flecks on his comb after our coldest day. I’m in NY, winter low was in the negative teens, and my chickens were in a basic plywood coop. If Montana is as cold as I’ve heard, you’d probably want an...
I can understand your concerns, I’m in northwest NY, and the February days where it gets down in the negative teens always make me feel bad for them. What I do is put sand at the bottom of my deep litter to absorb moisture, put straw bails around the base of my coop and run for insulation, and...
Look on eBay to see what various hatching eggs sell for, as well as how many buyers they get. Also compare prices on hatchery websites. Keep in mind that common breeds will sell much more quantity, but for a drastically lower price. I opted to breed and sell ultra rare Lamonas at $100 a dozen...