When i was young, in the summer, the chicken house was open in the morning, and the chickens went and ate whatever bugs they could find. Free range with a red tail hawk now and then. Wintertime they were kept locked up and fed wheat plus something to keep the shell hard.
Cleaning the house was an adventure with the smell not to mention the smell of a chicken being put in boiling water to get the feathers off.
Friday the egg carton and cream can was taken to town, ma got the check, and we spent the evening in town with the last stop the grocery store. Now and then would stop at DQ on way home. 5 cents for a regular cone and now and then 10 cents for chocolate dip. I remember one check being for around $26.
Not sure if there was any concern about the feed and how many eggs were produce. Ma would get mad when i and my brother would have egg fights.
And them there sitting hens who would not let me pick the eggs under there belly. Would pick the hell out of my hand every time i tried to get.
It was the way it was then.
And then milking. About 7-10 cows by hand, haul milk to kitchen, put in separator and haul most of the milk back to barn for calves. Cleaning separator took all morning but for me it was not a hand crane separator but run by electricity. Butter and ice cream was made.
Baby chickens were kept in house until they got older. dB
