Chicken Herder Dog?

[HillsHalfAcre]

We let our RIRs out of their 12' x 20' run daily, but they are really starting to roam a bit too far off, onto neighbors property. I have heard that Border Collies can be trained to herd chickens. It was suggested to me to also look into Blue Heelers, but after reading about their barking I've taken them off the list.
Any input is welcome. Thanks.

 

[Teach97]

my brother has a chicken wrangling chiuahaha...them little yappy dogs that eat at taco bell

I doubt all would do it but it apparently is a hoot to watch

 

[txchickie]

Border collies bark just as much. Our border collies are the biggest chicken killers ever

They have WAY too much drive and bite, but ours are bred for working cattle. You have to find the right lines within the breed.

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Australian Shepherds.
I've had several in the past with chicken flocks. They keep watch on the chicks all day. The herding part has to be worked on a little early on so the dog knows what it is you want them to do.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I had a blue heeler for 15 years.. She was the best dog ever.. Good with cats.. Kids... She saw chickens only when we went to visit my aunts farm.. They also had a full blood Australian Cattle Dog (aka Blue Heeler.). Mine had a small mix into it.. Both dogs would sniff the chickens, thats about it.. She rarely ever barked.. Only if some one walked into our house with out knocking.. Or she heard some thing that sounded really odd to her.. Which was not very often. She would look out the window first to see if she needed to bark about it.. She was a fast learner. She learned to not bark on command, if she was barking.. Start with them when they are young.. Took one week to potty train here.. Two weeks to teach her to pull a wagon. She loved it... She would even herd the cats into the house if we called the cats and they didnt come when called.. Im waiting till I can get another blue heeler...

ETA.. When training to herd, alot of people use Indian Runner ducks before using sheep or goats.. Not all trainers but some..

 

[newchik715]

My blue is so far pretty good with the chickens. I have the chicks for five weeks and the dog for three years. He is not a big barker. He barks when big birds fly over (even before we had chickens) and he barks if someone is coming into our house without knocking or if someone he does not know comes over....he is easily corrected and ridiculously smart. He wants to please me so bad he will do anything I say. He picks up on new commands with ease and I think I will train him to herd my new girls. Right now I would not trust him alone with the girls and I may never. But I know I can train him to leave them alone when I am around bc he is incredibly smart and attentive! And again I stress....my personal experience is this breed does not bark without cause!

 

[chickenlad95]

Border collies are the best chickens dogs ever..mine have never attacked my chickens and are currently living with an rir in there dog hous....id go border collie

 

[JROOSTER]

I would love to see a pic of dog and chicken in dog house. I do not dought you I just think that would be a great pic.

 

[Terri O]

I second the poster about BCs. Mine do a good job with the chickens and an even better one with my geese and ducks. They are easier to herd than chickens I guess. The trick is to get them to drive and that takes training. When I am working my young one she brings the chickens to me...my original dog just knew where I wanted them and took them there....much easier! TErri O

 

[BarkerChickens]

I think Border Collies (which several in my family raise) are equally as amazing as Heelers (which we own one). I love both breeds!!! Definitely my two favorite breeds. My heelers (aka australian Cattle Dog) is wonderful! She barks, but not any more than a typical dog (and definitely far less than breeds notorious for yappiness!). Every dog is different, but I think that you'd be equally as happy with one as you would the other.