Herding dogs?

[jhowe0987]

So I have recently gotten a pup who is a lab/border collie mix, in hopes that she will eventually be able to herd the chickens back into their pen from the yard. Come to find out my 5 year old American Staffordshire is an excellent herder, and took right to it. Does anyone else use herding dogs? Any tips for training this pup would be greatly appreciated. What breeds? Pics?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens put themselves away at dusk.
You can also get them to go where you want with a bucket of scratch.

Sorry, no input on herding. It seems as difficult as herding cats.
Whatever works for you.

 

[jhowe0987]

Well, I only let them free range in the yard when I am home. They have a 30x50 pen area that I keep them in when I am gone.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

When I need mine to go back in, I just toss a bit of scratch into the run and they all pile in. Easy-peasy. The Staffie is adorable though! I had one for 16 years. Still miss that girl.

 

[jhowe0987]

Here is a link to a video I just uploaded to YouTube.

 

[jhowe0987]

Our staffie is such a good boy. He loves herding the chickens into the pen. He is very good at it as the video shows. My only hope is that we can teach Maggie.

 

[centrarchid]

Contrary to what Chickencanoe stated, chickens in my experience are more difficult to herd than cats.

Dog shown above was not herding, rather pushing birds. Pushing in most instances can be problematic as is can change into a full blown chase and is clearly stressful on those birds. The limited pushing I tolerated involves dogs finding discrete flocks over a much larger area. In that desired situation the chickens largely just get out of dog's way and cut back behind it to resume what ever they where doing. Your birds where running away and not towards any obvious destination.

 

[drumstick diva]

I love your black puppy all flopped out on the ground ignoring the chicken near it. I would think it could be a very good dog for chickens - seems relaxed and oblivious to the birds.

 

[centrarchid]

It is easy to get the cute puppy pictures but challenges as the puppy matures and increasingly test the limits. A lot of work is ahead before risk of that puppy staring in a chicken killing spree is over.

 

[auntdover23]

does anybody know good herding dogs for goats and sheep?