A goose can't stand up to a canine or large cat. A single goose cannot watch over nesting hens scattered across the landscape duing the nesting season. A goose would probably walk right by a nesting hen and never know she was there. Predators find nests by the smell.
My geese were killed by predators because they were not agile or fast enough.
Where are you located?
I find it highly unlikely that this practice would succeed in any area that isn't capable of supporting a year-round population of feral chickens.
Unless, of course, they have access to a fair number of other livestock animals that are fed so that they can find sufficient food by scavenging spilled feed, picking undigested grain out of manure, etc.
I do not think @3KillerBs is calling you a liar when you say you already have done it.
In most parts of the US, I think chickens require food in addition to what they can find by foraging for themselves. I don't imagine our "forefathers" were buying it at Tractor Supply, but were providing something. Most likely, it included things they produced themselves, or things they bought and hauled home with a horse an wagon, or carried home in a bag over their shoulder.
Someone owns and is paying the bills for this place. It's their prerogative.
