How are Border Collies for pets and living with chickens

[rocketdoctor]

I have the opportunity to get a thorougbred Border Collie, I was curious whats peoples experience with these dogs around chickens, I really want to get a dog that will I can allow my chickens to free range around my large yard without getting picked off by cats or foxes like we had before. I also have a cockateil thats wonders around my house and don't want a dog to chase it around. Also how are these dogs around kids, I have a 7 and 9 year old that really want to a dog as well.

My wife warns me that these dogs are alot of work and not great with kids but thats not my experience with freinds whove had these dogs in the past.

any help and advice on these dogs would be greatly appreciated , my kids and chickens would appreciate it as well

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Personally I say it depends upon what your BC was breed for - is this a show line or a working line. Show line - I have never, ever had any luck with them - and will not have one in my house.


Working line - I have one and she is worth her weight in gold! She is outside with the chickens from morning until lock-up. Great with chooks, ducks, geese and my horses - but she does have a job! Her job is rodents - rabbits, squirrels, mice, pack rats, rats - all are activly hunted. I can and do leave the house with the dogs (BC and Cane Corso mastiff) out and about, free with the chickens, ducks, geese. When I come home, dogs and fowl great me.

 

[rocketdoctor]

Quote:
What kind of questions or how can I determine this, these dogs are from a farm that took my unwanted rooster. I imagine they are working dogs.

 

[kindir]

Ask if they are registered with AKC. If so, they are show lines 99% of the time. I have 2 border collies, both working lines. Great dogs if you are going to do something with them. If they are going to be house dogs that you want just hanging around, pick another breed.

In terms of kids, it depends. How old and how dog savvy are they? Border Collies can be high strung, particularly those who haven't been brought up well. They need exercise, but even more so they need to use their BRAINS. If you want a dog who you can teach to play frisbee, herd sheep, do agility, get your paper in the morning, etc. and you plan on training it, you won't find a better dog. If training is low on your priority list, don't get it. As the saying goes, if you don't give them a job they will find one and you may not like it!!

 

[33yardbirds]

My wife has a border collie and I can't stand him. Barks at me when I talk to my wife barks when I go out the door barks at my nephews diesel pick-up when he pulls out of their lane a 1/4 mile away. First thing he did was grab a hen when he bolted out the back door. Just feathers, but I believe if I hadn't gotten to them he would have killed her and then just turned a walked away. I would not hurt the dog but I do NOT like him.

 

[scooter147]

Like others have said they need a job and lots of exercise and if they don't Katie bar the door!!!!!

I have had three dogs that were great protectors of my flocks. Here is what I have done in past. (may not be what you want since your looking for a family pet) I simply go to the pound and get a pup around 7 to 8 weeks old pup, I prefer a female. I raise the pup in the chicken coop with the birds. She quickly bonds with the birds. I set up a portion of the coop and run for the pup and I do crate them at night for the first 6 months or so just to drum it into them that this is were they sleep. I feed the dog when I feed the birds. The dog was also let out of the coop in the evening when I got home so it can be a dog as well.
I may have been lucky with this method but I sure can't argue about the results I have had. I currently don't have a dog protecting my flock as Rose was "sold" with my last place. The buyer wanted her as he too wanted poultry. I was heart broken in leaving her behind but she was a happy dog protecting her girls and after all that is all she knew.
I can tell you I sure miss it. With Rose I never shut the pop door and NEVER lost a bird.

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

My Granny had a pure bred Border Collie and she kept chickens. I think I remember White Rock hens. Granny would open the door to the run and tell Princess "Keep the chickens out of the garden." Princess would watch the birds until she was convinced they were too close to the garden. Round up time! Princess would herd the hens to under the pecan tree then lay down and watch them. This went on all day. Round up happened about once an hour.

This was also the same dog that I tried to help wash out in the yard once. I had a good grip on the dog and Granny said, "Oh, you don't have to hold her so tight. She'll stand there." I couldn't believe any dog was that well behaved with a bath. "Princess ran away from me once when I was trying to rinse her. She spent most of the afternoon covered in soap. After a few hours I asked her if she was ready to get rinsed. She hasn't run away from me during a bath since..."

Yes, it depends upon both the dog and the trainer (owner). ONE DAY I will get a Border Colllie. It won't have to be pure bred, but it will have to have a good brain in his/her head. It's job will be to watch the chickens and run the varmits out the yard.

 

[8ROYALS]

I have a borader collie mix with one fourth huskey. He stands still to be brushed, washed and loves to play with other animals. He loves chickens and goats always wants to herd them. I have not left him alone with the chickens at the ranch. I believe he would not intentionally hurt one, but if he drew blood....I think he would go from protector to predator. I think that is true of most dogs, plus it is what my grandfather always said. So it has to be true...right?

 

[quinkerton]

I have 2 border collies and 63 chickens. We didn't get chickens until my senior collie was 5. He is a mother hen (no punt intended). They both are great with the chickens and mark all around the run to keep predators away. When my older boy gets to be to much I will put him in the chicken run and tell him to round up the flock. They are both great with our kids, 4 and 2. They are very protective of them and let them climb all over them. In general I love the breed but you need to research it first to make sure it is a great fit for you. Yes they are very active and need lots of attention. If they don't get the attention they need they can become aggressive or destructive. My dog used to take to eatting expensive clothing and furniture when he was bored. He also barks a lot when new people come in. They are an aquired taste. Most of my friends can only take my dogs in small doses, lol.
I will ask you this, how old is the dog you were offered and what is his background? All dogs are different and it is hard to determine what their temperment will be until they are tested. Unless he is a puppy I would be leary of bringing him into your home. Question why he is being offered to you, do his owners need to get rid of him for a reason? And medical history. Good luck to you. If you get him post a picture.

 

[bambi]

Really do your research before getting a Border Collie. I love my BC and she is a great chicken herder she will guard them with her life and she rounds them up in the evening and puts them away. Several things you should know about BC. They are great but plan on doing alot of training and can't say it in more clearly than if you don't have the time , space and understanding of this breed you will have a lot of heart ache and tore up things because thier minds have to be challenged or they will find something to do. Makes me thing of a joke where the quetion was how many dogs does it take to change a light bulb it gave a list of different breeds but the answer for the BC was one and after changing the light bulb he/she would rewire your house for you and ask what is next the cat said you do it. They are equivelent to Doctor degree in dogs intellegents. Sorry this is so long but hope it helps you out.