goldens and chickens

Question
We are planning on bringing a golden retriever puppy into our home soon.  I've
not been able to find any solid information on how best to 'socialize' our puppy
to our handful of chickens who currently have free range in our very big yard.  
Will her instincts for being a bird dog and a retriever be too much for her?  With
training, do you think it is possible for the dog and chickens to share the yard?

Answer
Yes I think it could be done, but perhaps not easily.  I would make sure you start with a young puppy, 7-8 weeks old.  At that age, they are ready to leave their mother and littermates, but are still quick to accept new things.  They also will continue the rough play they enjoyed with their littermates with anything handy, you, the chickens, etc.  I don't know if chickens are sturdy enough to teach the puppy they  don't want to play.  

Take the puppy out into the yard on leash.  Get the chickens to approach it, using food if you have to.  Let the puppy sniff one, but as soon as it starts anything rough, give it an ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and offer it a chew toy.  I have never taught a puppy to leave chickens alone, but this was what we did when we had an older dog that wanted nothing to do with a puppy, it sharp litte teeth, and biting games.  Expect it to be a long time before you can leave the puppy and chickens alone.