Lamona Mystery - Extinct? Just a couple of questions.

[chickenguysmom]

Ok, so about a week or so ago someone posted a picture of a very lovely chicken asking if it was the believed-to-be extinct breed of chicken named after a fella who developed the breed by the name of Lamone. It took him something like 18 years to breed in and out all the traits he wanted from the lines of three different breeds. Basically he was looking for a white bird, white skin, yellow legs (?), RED Earlobes and white eggs.

It was kinda of interesting that at the same time I had read on one of the heritage breed websites about the Lamona. On the site it said they were believed to have all died off sometime ago (like the 1920s or 1930s) but that sometime in the mid-1980s two separate flocks of Lamonas had been discovered and those individuals asked not to be revealed and they were not selling eggs or chickens. So Yeah we have them back......

I also read something (if memory serves correct) from maybe Feathersite about how in mid-80s someone was given a flock of Lamonas and it included about four hens and two roosters and that gentleman was trying to breed them. Long story short after loosing some of the hens he was down to one that layed and one that didn't. Then the worst that could possibly happen, happened ....... the one that layed died. [Dramatic music with a dun-dun-dun-DUNNNNNN.]

However, all was not lost as he had hatched out 38 offspring before she died. The story left us hanging on the edge of our computer chair..... did the breed succumb? Was he successful in rescuing our beloved Lamonas from the brink of extinction? Where are the Lamonas now? Did something else happen to those precious babies?

OK, so..... Here are my questions....... All these flocks and still we have no Lamonas out there anywhere ..... I mean it's been 20-25 years and whoever has these flocks haven't been able to produce enough prodgeny for the rest of us?

What ever happened to dude with the 38 offspring. Was that not enough to get a breeding program going (breeders let me know the honest truth). I am guessing that even if he self selected and only breed the top 5% of the hatch wouldn't we have like a gazillion Lamonas by now?

And my last question is quite inane and I promise is the last annoying question I will pose..... but if it only took him 18 years to develop the breed and we know what he did....... haven't we all had time a-plenty to do it all over again? I mean it's been 25 + years since we discovered we don't have any of these things..... What gives? (I know that's another question and I promised to stop asking.)

Please weigh in on this so I can get some sleep at night!

 

[Sillystunt]

 

[bishopschickens]

Dunno, maybe something happened to him and some heir didn't know what they had and sold them as Leghorns to a local farmer!!!

What a loss. I dont know, maybe someone that creates some of these nice colors could tell you more about bringing a breed to proper proportions. I have the Cream Brabanters that were supposedly extinct and came back in the early 1900's. I would like to find out too!

 

[chickenguysmom]

I am going to attempt a little math to see how many chickens you can produce by keeping just 5% of the offspring and mating them. Then I would appreciate any math wizzards to check me on it. I going off to my secret location (bedroom) and fire up my super-computer (actually, I am going to bed) and I will see if an answer comes to me tomorrow. I'll keep checking in on this to see what kind of answers y'all come up with as to why I am not right at this moment down at my local Tractor Supply having my 6 Lamona pullet chicks boxed up.

In the meantime, if your not sleepy and you happen to know about these things and can run those calculations for me, please do so. It would save my brain from hurting. By the way, is 5% the correct average number that a breeder would keep, too much?, too little? or does the fact that this is not just any breeding program, I mean we are talking about Lamonas for goodness sake, make 5% reasonable. We are not talking about perfecting the breed just saving the breed from utter doom.

If this chicken question doesn't stop keeping me awake at night -- perhaps I could dream of Lamonas, pretty little Lamonas.

 

[BantyRooster]

Chickenguysmom,
Have you ever considered decaf???

I hope you get your answers, this post has me on the edge of my seat...

 

[Chris09]

This is what I read I the American Standard of Perfection it wasnt just one person doing the breeding to make this breed..
It was a Goverment Experiment breed....

" Lamonas were originated at the United States Goverment Experiment Station at Beltsville, Maryland. They were the result of crosses of Silver Dorkings, White Plymouth Rock and Single Comb White Leghorns. A heavy breed fowl laying a white shelled egg. Admitted to the Standard in 1933."

Chris

 

[moonflowers]

I am intrigued, it is always sad to see different breeds disappear. I hope to hear some more information if anyone knows anything else.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I heard they found 2 nice flocks but won't revile were they are, because the owners are afraid of being pestered for birds and eggs, when the flocks are stable will see

I do know someone who recreated them

 

[Emzyyy]

Quote:
So we could all could "re-make" them and it would be considered a Lamona?

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

if you use the same 'recipe' as the orginal, but there are those who say no to that