I really think the way things are happening you should have gone with a less excitable and driven breed.
I work with every breed of dog under the sun full time and i wouldn't call husky's or malamutes easy to manage. They need ALOT of exercise, training and discipline. I'm sorry but in my opinion a collar is a poor choice to correctly train a dog. I'd rather establish the rules with insctructions, not a prop. Obviously if you're not home and somehow the dog has access to the birds some kind of boundary needs to be made.
Can i ask how the husky was able to get to the bird? Are they not kept in cages?
Treats and toys can be very good tools for getting attention initially but you can't depend on them 100% of the time. Dogs learn to ignore you when they know you don't have something they want and without consequences they will continue trying to get away with it. I prefer to use my voice, tones and hand signals.
Almost every naughty trait can be avoided or cured with a command and some patience but one thing i will not stand for is aggression - In general, to people or other animals. I meet way too many dogs and owners that have their relationships completely turned upside down. Dogs have owners wrapped around their little paws.