Border Collie

[Deannep36]

Are they ok to have around chickens? I'm thinking of getting one, and would want him/her to run free. But I wander if that would be Ok with my free ranging chickens

Deanne

 

[okiron]

Are you going to be training the dog? Will they be supervised at all times? Border Collies will try to herd the chickens because they were bred to herd. You might have some that can be trusted and some that can't.

 

[CaGoatLady]

Okiron is right, I've got 4 Borders and only one might chase a chicken, but he'd chase anything that runs. If they are trained, or if they are the type that obsessively herd anything by just staring and doing the Border Collie down, he would just stay along the perimeter of wherever the chickens are and watch and try to keep them contained to an area. If the dog does chase chickens, you've got to come up with a way to discourage that behavior without the dog thinking that herding is a no-no all the time. Three of my Borders have a high-drive for herding sheep, but I have 8 goats and 2 sheep and they act like they don't even see them in the yard, or that they are in the way of our Frisbee game, but if I take them to a regular herding trial area, they are rabid about wanting to get in and herd some sheep.

 

[txchickie]

We have 4. Of them all, only one has conducted a chicken massacre....he ate 3 when he escaped the kennel. Who knew a dog could climb out of a 6 ft kennel

The other 3 could care less. They might try to herd them around a little, but it only lasts a few seconds.

 

[Smoky73]

My Border Collie/Aussie mix is so obsessive about chasing anything live that she wants to play, which means that she pummels everything into the ground, which she would probably kill it, unintentionally. I once had a chicken get into my yard when it was freeranging, and the dog was pummeling it as I said I was afraid she would kill it. She did not though. When she herds the goats, she basically pummels them too, until they are so aggrevated they run. Her brain seems to switch to the "off" position when herding which means no commands get through to her.
Here she is, her name is Amy

 

[freerangefreaks]

My guy loves to herd chickens. But he doesn't eat them. Border Collies are the best dogs in the whole world!!!

 

[Deannep36]

They are the best dog in the whole world

Thanks you all for your advice and input. It will be awhile before I get one. I've been doing a lot of research and all that you have said has helped me a lot

Thank you
Deanne

 

[Stina]

If it is raised from a young pup around the birds you shouldn't have an issues.....border collies are INCREDIBLY intelligent....I often think that they're really aliens and not actually dogs...lol The biggest thing with border collies is that you need to make sure they have a job.....or they'll make one up themselves (and its usually not a "good" job...). As long as you make it clear while he/she is a pup that the chickens are not their job, you shouldn't have a problem

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

I have a Border Collie/Lab mix - she's also the best dog in the whole world! She herds the chickens for me, but she doesn't try to grab them, she just loves to herd. She can get a bit overzealous sometimes, but I've trained her that she can only herd when I say, "Okay, it's time to put away the chickens, girl!". She can stay out all day with the chickens and not touch them a bit.

I say go for it! I'd love to get another Collie - a black and white one like the last photo someone posted. Beautiful Collie!