How were flocks of poultry maintained hundreds of years ago?

[Sally PB]

And sometimes, the crops failed. Even losing one crop could be devastating, as everything was a link in the chain.

 

[Vicker]

This is a great discussion. My flock can free range on 4 acres of insects, mice, lizards, weeds, flowers and grass but tend to fill up at the feeder and lounge around most of the day. I've been thinking about rationing the feed, at least until winter.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

In the late eighties my family tried off the grid living with minimal income and raising food on forty acres. Even with some money, a tractor, chainsaws, it was a hard life. We lasted four years before moving back to civilization.

30a. Good climate. Chainsaw(s). Tractor. Plenty of electricity.
I have a day job that pays for the lifestyle. Absolutely could not do what my great grandparents did. Working my land is a very expensive hobby.

 

[Ridgerunner]

People died much younger, a lot of kids never made it to adulthood.

Mom and Dad both grew up on subsistence farms. Counting Mom and Dad there were a total of 17 kids between their families. Six of my aunts and uncles died before they were 3 years old so only 11 made it to adulthood.

Life expectancy was shorter then. That's calculated as an average. 6 out of 17 can really drop the averages. Some adults did die from diseases or accidents that they would live through today but several people made it to a pretty old age if they made it out of childhood.

Those births took place in the 19-teens through the 1930's.

 

[Perris]

Mom and Dad both grew up on subsistence farms. Counting Mom and Dad there were a total of 17 kids between their families. Six of my aunts and uncles died before they were 3 years old so only 11 made it to adulthood.

Life expectancy was shorter then. That's calculated as an average. 6 out of 17 can really drop the averages. Some adults did die from diseases or accidents that they would live through today but several people made it to a pretty old age if they made it out of childhood.

Those births took place in the 19-teens through the 1930's.

That's an important point. Throughout history some have lived to what we would consider a ripe old age; for example, some of the most famous ancient Greeks made it into their 80s and 90s - and were even at that age writing orations or tragedies that are still considered masterpieces, or leading armies in the field.

 

[Sally PB]

Working my land is a very expensive hobby.

Pretty much the same here. We saved throughout our working lives to retire to our "homestead." Part of the plan was putting in a large garden -- or two -- and cutting a lot of wood for heat.

Along the way, we acquired/built the tools/gear we needed. Wood stove, 40 ton woodsplitter, chainsaw(s), Jeep, plow truck, greenhouse, chicken coop, etc., etc.

The garden is my "job that pays in food." But if we only had what we grow, we'd be hungry in a few months. The chickens are "petstock," and I don't free range them because of the predator pressure. They are for eggs and manure. I'm not thinking of getting any other animals. I would consider hunting, though hubby would be a hard sell on that idea. Until we got hungry enough.