* Chickens were primarily kept for their eggs, with meat being a secondary product.
* Most chickens were raised on small farms, and were allowed to free-range.
* Chickens were typically fed a diet of grain, scraps, and kitchen waste.
* Poultry farming was a labor-intensive process, and required a lot of time and effort to keep the birds healthy and productive.
Present Day
* The poultry industry has become a highly industrialized and globalized business.
* The majority of chickens are now raised in large, commercial farms, where they are kept in confinement and fed a specialized diet.
* Chickens are typically processed at a young age, and their meat is sold in supermarkets and restaurants around the world.
* The poultry industry is now one of the largest agricultural industries in the world, and it plays a vital role in providing food for a growing population.
Some of the key changes that have taken place in the poultry enterprise from colonial times to the present include:
* Increased scale: The poultry industry has grown from a small-scale, localized activity to a global industry that produces billions of chickens each year.
* Increased specialization: In colonial times, chickens were typically raised for both meat and eggs. Today, there are specialized breeds of chickens that are bred specifically for meat production or egg production.
* Increased technology: The poultry industry has adopted a wide range of technologies to improve efficiency and productivity, including automated feeding and watering systems, climate-controlled housing, and genetic selection.
* Increased regulation: The poultry industry is subject to a wide range of regulations to ensure food safety and animal welfare. These regulations include requirements for housing, feeding, and transportation of chickens, as well as standards for processing and packaging of poultry products.
The changes that have taken place in the poultry enterprise from colonial times to the present have revolutionized the way that chickens are raised and processed. These changes have made it possible to produce large quantities of poultry meat and eggs at a relatively low cost, which has made these products more affordable for consumers around the world.