Using a Dog to Find Eggs

[PittyLova]

Hey there! Not sure if this is the right spot for this or not.

I was wondering if anybody had trained their dog to track eggs down from your freerange birds? I have 4 dogs currently and have decided to attempt to find the 3 younger ones jobs around the new homestead (one is 14 and is happy just following me around and avoiding the scary pigs). Training would be an extra chore to get them to do anything, but I think in the long run it will make them happy to have jobs to do considering they're all working type breeds (and easier on my sanity...a tired dog is a happy owner). I have one female who I trust with the livestock 99%(never 100% lol) and is extremely gentle. I think she'd be good working around everybody and wouldn't try to snatch the eggs. I read about somebody training their dog to gather the eggs. I'm not sure how gentle I can get her mouth and if she'd end up just breaking them. She's an AmStaff/Cane Corso...I think that job would be best for a retriever type that's bred to hold delicate things gently. I'm curious as to how successful people have been training their dogs to track down the eggs though?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Posting so I can follow replies.

I have trained a lot of dogs to do a lot of things, and I can say that the Labs and Golden Retrievers I have had have all had wonderfully soft mouths. We trained them to bring in groceries from the car...they insisted on helping. They could bring in a loaf of bread without squishing or tearing.

So I think it is definitely possible, depending on the dog. The unfortunate circumstance will be a hard mouth breaking the egg. That could naturally reinforce egg hunting and eating rather than simply gathering.

Go for it. Start with good tennis ball recall and work your way down to something like a water balloon until you can introduce eggs. Trick is of course retrieving on command, but with sufficiently tasty food treats, and a food motivated dog, it definitely could work.

LofMc

 

[PittyLova]

I've trained for a lot of things. I compete in Barn Hunt, Rally, and Agility with my guys so I'm not too worried about training. And honestly, I'd probably go with the dog and just teach them to track and signal the eggs I think. Bully breeds and mastiffs aren't known for having soft mouths like retrievers Kind of completely opposite of their purpose. I'm thinking that just getting them to track and signal eggs would be helpful when the birds are all out during the nice weather.

 

[aart]

Sounds like if anyone could train them to do that, you could.
As I'm sure you know, it's more about the trainer than the dog.

.....or you could 'train' the chickens to lay in the coop nests
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Peeps61]

My dog, a dachshund/beagle mix has a very soft mouth. When I see her carrying an egg in her mouth from the backyard, I collect it and then look for the others. I'm sure she could be trained to either collect or show me where any eggs outside of the nesting boxes were. Most of my chickens lay in the nests, but a few are persistently stubborn and lay in the front yard or behind the garbage cans.

 

[PittyLova]

Sounds like if anyone could train them to do that, you could.
As I'm sure you know, it's more about the trainer than the dog.

.....or you could 'train' the chickens to lay in the coop nests
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Lol my chickens can be jerks and lay where ever they happen to feel like at the moment. I've found eggs behind the plywood stacked in the corner of the barn, in the goats' house and last night there was one on top of where our guinea hogs were sleeping under the hay. Pigs got up when they heard me come in and the egg went rolling. Now that I think of it, it's probably the same chicken...always the same pink-brown egg color. They USUALLY lay in the nests, but I'm thinking a run around with a dog may make sure I get the eggs and the pigs don't.

We're also adding Muscovy and I've heard they're notoriously good at hiding eggs when free ranging and who I'm most concerned about

 

[aart]

Lol my chickens can be jerks and lay where ever they happen to feel like at the moment. I've found eggs behind the plywood stacked in the corner of the barn, in the goats' house and last night there was one on top of where our guinea hogs were sleeping under the hay. Pigs got up when they heard me come in and the egg went rolling. Now that I think of it, it's probably the same chicken...always the same pink-brown egg color. They USUALLY lay in the nests, but I'm thinking a run around with a dog may make sure I get the eggs and the pigs don't.

We're also adding Muscovy and I've heard they're notoriously good at hiding eggs when free ranging and who I'm most concerned about

Not sure about ducks but chickens can be trained.

 

[RiverOtter]

My GSD does.
But I have to say, if she finds an egg and can't find me in about 30 seconds, it's hers.
Like, if I'm not with her and she finds one, she'll look around and wander towards the house with it and if she sees me, she'll happily bring it to me, but if she doesn't by the time she's within 50 feet or so of the house, it's a snack.

Better her than them sitting out and drawing raccoons near though

 

[lazy gardener]

I made the mistake of setting my egg basket on the deck one day. It took my dog less than 5 minutes to become an egg thieving, egg sucking, hound.

 

[Reiki Rooster]

My german shepherd has tracked down the stray chicken and guinea for me, and there has been times where I caught her stealing my eggs from my basket. She has yet to break one, she just carries them. No idea why, but I know if I did want to train her she would be great at finding eggs and bringing them to me safely. I'd also say if you pup did break an egg it would prob only happen once, can't imagine they'd like the taste.

Maybe you can give her a hard boiled egg and see how she handles that?