Another animal much overlooked but correct for the period is a guinea fowl. They are barnyard sentinels, and shriek out an alarm at intruders ranging from people to raccoons to hawks. Some of those intruders are real threats to chickens and you may need to add predator control to your list of rural skills. Or get a goose. Geese are territorial and pretty good at running off the lesser vermin.
Chickens are available through the mail.
About as much like a supermarket egg as real slab bacon is to a hot dog. Yup, get some chickens. They are definitely worth the trouble. Bill Watson Chickenless in Stroudsburg, Pa.