Barn Cats

[NightskyeB4Dawn]

I know absolutely nothing about working cats, so if anyone can provide some personal knowledge or advice, it will be greatly appreciated.

Any cat can be a good barn cat.  Not everyone can be good at owning a barn cat.

1st - spay.  You don't need litters you'll eventually have to 'take care of'.
2d - acclimate (two birds here).  You'll have to keep the cat with you until it's big enough to fend for itself.
3d - cold heart.  When you put the cat(s) in the barn ... that's it.
4th - understand.  Cat's are natural murderers.  Anything a barn cat can kill is gonna die ... including your chickens.
5th - feed it.  Keep your relationship.  A can of wet food every week or so is all you need for this (a hungry cat hunts ... a lot).  Open the can, in the barn, slowly, and scrape the food out into its feeding bowl.
6th - it's still your responsibility.  Be ready to take your cat to the vet.

OBTW: Barn cat poop is still cat poop.  

So you don't put out a liter box for your barn cats?

I don't need my cat wandering for food, I just want him to protect my garden. I was planning on feeding them once a day, would that keep them close to home? I don't want them hunting my neighbors property, I like my neighbors and I love their chickens. 
What about personal interactions, will they come when called?

Lazarus has me all screwed up. He really didn't know he was a cat. He acted like the alpha dog on the homestead. He spent most of his time in the house but kept all critters at bay. He chased off outside dogs, bobcat, he even chased off a wild boar. He was a stupidly fearless little confused cat. He came when called and was highly demanding of attention when "he" wanted it.

For strangers Lazarus was a one stroke cat. He would let strangers stroke him once. "If" he let you stroke him a second time, that was his way of saying you are okay with me, a third stroke and his goal was for you to pull back a stump. Did I tell you he was crazy?