I had a siberian and an iditarod husky and a yorkie,
living with free-roaming; chickens, ducks, roosters and rabbits,
for over 10 years in France.
Only one time, the Sibe, "Ru", pounced on a hen, like a game, and we lost* her.
(*she died within a minute or two.)
He was reprimanded and he never attacked another hen again.
As a precaution, I put up a small garden fence when the chicks were growing.
It has to do with, if you're home all day, also,
because... a farm-life is created, where they are all part of your family.
The dogs begin guarding the birds and eat their meals outside
with the birds nearby or next to them.
Though, if you rarely visit with the birds, and only treat them as an extension group,
they're forgotten essentials to you, and to the dogs also.
Mine were free-roaming birds, (except at night), with at about an acre of walking space every day.
The larger space given to the birds, also has to do with territorial acceptance, for the dogs,
Including a new work goal as markers and bird watchers as well.
For the birds diet, an acre is better,
however as they sometimes get too lost in all of the meadows,
the larger space can be annoying for many people,
because they never wanted to be bird herders also.
Too many people though, put them in a cage, for their whole lives,
where the birds live a trapped existence and never know the freedom of chasing a butterfly.
With the dogs, even as lazy bird-watchers, the birds had longer lifespans as free-roamers,
because the dogs dominated the land, away from foxes, etc.
Huskies though are very blasie, and really are more territorial-markers than bird-watchers,
whereas a yorkie will bark at any quiver of sunlight.
Personally, I would never, have chickens without a husky or other dog present.
The siberian, male, began living with chickens at 2-3 years old.
and the alaskan (iditarod) husky, male, began living with chickens at 5-7 years old.
If the farm is very large, and the dog(s) are too far away from the birds,
then farmers tend to lose them to predators.
For example; a pond with your pond birds, a distance from the house is not a good idea,
as the dog(s) will prefer to be at the house more, leaving the pond unattended and more vulnerable.
My pond birds, bathed in the pond, and then hung around next to the house all day.
For free-roaming birds, feed them near the house, and walk among them,
sit outside and do your work around them, and just be a pain to predators.
If going away to the store, you can put them indoors, depending upon how wild your region is.
