What did people do 100 years ago when there was no freezers?

[Pollokeeper]

I am asking this question because I am living somewhere where the luxories that I used to have are no longer available to me. How did people use their chickens effectively to feed their families when they had no refridgeration? For me, this is a good question because I have only a small fridge and a small freezer but I still want to eat fresh chickens. I can only freeze 3 or 4 at a time and that will give me no room for other types of meat. Just wondering. I plan to buy a freezer but it will take some time. By the way, I am retired and live in Panama. Life is simple here to say the least.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

butcher when needed, let the rest run around, that's what my granma did

 

[SpringChickens]

Also, they would make dishes like chicken soup. Boil it every morning and every evening and it will stay good for a long time even without refrigeration.

 

[Pollokeeper]

I have been here for 9 months and have been wondering why I have been eating so much soup. Thanx for that. My fiance is from Columbia and she makes some kind of soup in the morning it seems and it stays on the stove until we go to bed. Whatever is not eaten(which is not much) goes outside to the ferrel chickens. I am from Florida and we don't like soup in the hot weather. But, I must be flexible.

 

[ericsplls]

Yes theres no better way to preserve chicken than to let them keep breathing until you are ready to eat them. You just need to raise heritage breeds because the cornishx hatch with an expiration date.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

also you can can or smoke the meat

 

[KatieH]

Yeah, they would smoke and salt meats, too. Then they could keep through the winter.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:

 

[blueskylen]

They used to can their meat and vegetables too - keeps for several years. you would need a canner and some jars, lids, etc. but it would enable you to preserve enough for several years. also dry the meat, as in jerky - pretty salty tho.

 

[Mahonri]

Not to beat a dead chicken, but I think you've heard all of the answers.

Use broody, dual purpose breeds that hatch year round, eat as needed.