Poultry Keeping in 1867

I think we're going to be adding a couple of hens this summer on behalf of our close neighbors who can't keep their own due to work/travel schedules.  It seems kind of cruel to keep just one bird when chickens are such social creatures., ven though Lucy, the Rhode Island Red, gets lot's of free range time in the garden. I'd like to add a heritage breed that would be appropriate for Northern Arizona and also learn about poultry keeping practices from the previous century.  Discovered this book (from the bloglink below) and ordered it -- it's been digitalized. 

Poultry Keeping in 1867 in England

The illustrations of different popular chicken breeds are wonderful.