A golden retriever is a bird dog. By definition. IF the dog has any proper genetics at all it's going to want to at the very least, put it's mouth on the birds.
Gentle yes. Devoid of canine gene-based instinct. Probably not.
What is required is not denial, assumption or hope. But actual observation and training and careful supervision.
Teaching the dog to watch, without mouthing. To lay down to watch the chicks. To LEAVE IT, on command. That there are rules. No mouth. No paw whacking. No running at or barking at, ever.
IF you have already trained the dog to good consistency with normal commands, sit, sit stay, down, down stay, come when called on and off leash, leave it, then your task is simpler than if you decided you had a good and gentle dog, who is not actually fully trained only "good in the house, or on the property."
That's different. That means instincts can still over come the partial training, where though they will challenge a well trained dog, they can overwhelm the half-trained quickly.
IF your dog is not sound off leash, off property and under distraction. It is time for you to step up and train.
Establish early and consistently rules you want the dog to follow. What is and is not appropriate. Get the dog off property and in classes, dogs that learn to generalize off property are simply more aware of your leadership in all situations.
As to poop, chickens are scavengers, so are dogs. Poop happens. In truth almost any animal that crosses your property can carry coccidia and many many do. It is rarely a challenge to any animal with a healthy immune system. Extremely young or frail animals will have problems at times. It's not common in healthy animals.
Good sanitary practice, good practical standards of care and all should be well. Huge piles of animal feces in standing puddled water would be a bad idea. Most people understand that and take care of the situation.
Good nutrition, practical sanitation, controlling stagnation and puddles/mud pools and feces accumulation are all pretty simple, pretty obvious.
Take care where you place your chicken compost pile - neither puddles nor run off should go through the pile.
In both the management of the dog and the management of the area. Just be aware, be practical, keep an eye on your yard, feed well and train and it will likely all work out well.
Good luck.
Gentle yes. Devoid of canine gene-based instinct. Probably not.
What is required is not denial, assumption or hope. But actual observation and training and careful supervision.
Teaching the dog to watch, without mouthing. To lay down to watch the chicks. To LEAVE IT, on command. That there are rules. No mouth. No paw whacking. No running at or barking at, ever.
IF you have already trained the dog to good consistency with normal commands, sit, sit stay, down, down stay, come when called on and off leash, leave it, then your task is simpler than if you decided you had a good and gentle dog, who is not actually fully trained only "good in the house, or on the property."
That's different. That means instincts can still over come the partial training, where though they will challenge a well trained dog, they can overwhelm the half-trained quickly.
IF your dog is not sound off leash, off property and under distraction. It is time for you to step up and train.
Establish early and consistently rules you want the dog to follow. What is and is not appropriate. Get the dog off property and in classes, dogs that learn to generalize off property are simply more aware of your leadership in all situations.
As to poop, chickens are scavengers, so are dogs. Poop happens. In truth almost any animal that crosses your property can carry coccidia and many many do. It is rarely a challenge to any animal with a healthy immune system. Extremely young or frail animals will have problems at times. It's not common in healthy animals.
Good sanitary practice, good practical standards of care and all should be well. Huge piles of animal feces in standing puddled water would be a bad idea. Most people understand that and take care of the situation.
Good nutrition, practical sanitation, controlling stagnation and puddles/mud pools and feces accumulation are all pretty simple, pretty obvious.
Take care where you place your chicken compost pile - neither puddles nor run off should go through the pile.
In both the management of the dog and the management of the area. Just be aware, be practical, keep an eye on your yard, feed well and train and it will likely all work out well.
Good luck.
