Training a BC to chickens

[Rosekitten]

So I have three dogs that have grown up with cats and they are fine with them (two border collies and a newfoundland). The one border collie doesn't care, she can be left with the chicks all day and would rather look at anything else or just sleep near-by. My boy though.. he's over excited about this ordeal.

He's got more of a work drive than my girl and has been ball focused from day one. This was the 'job' I gave him as we didn't have a farm and I wanted to prevent him finding his own job and it be something like chasing cars (I've heard of it and I didn't want to have to try to untrain that.. ).

I've been trying to work daily with him to show him the chicks, working on leave it, stay, be easy. He's only acted a bit snippy a few times. Most of the time he's trying to nose boop it (herding) or lick it .. and well the chicks don't want that.

 

[Debbie292d]

We were very lucky that our border collie just took the job of watching over our chickens. We border a woods so there are critters from time to time but she and a few other things keeps them away.

She was who trained our corgi who watches out for them too.

Couldn't your one border collie sort of train the other? The "leave it" command is a great one but we've never needed it unless stopping them from chasing something like a skunk.

 

[Rosekitten]

We were very lucky that our border collie just took the job of watching over our chickens. We border a woods so there are critters from time to time but she and a few other things keeps them away.

She was who trained our corgi who watches out for them too.

Couldn't your one border collie sort of train the other? The "leave it" command is a great one but we've never needed it unless stopping them from chasing something like a skunk.

The thing is.. the girl just doesn't care, it's not that she leaves or not leaves them. She just doesn't have any interest in them at all. The one that seems fixated is the more trained one (older) but I'd had to do hard cut offs with his commands to get him to even leave the room the brooder is in. I'm a little hopeful that maybe he'll settle once they start clucking instead of this squeak they have going on as they sound similar to his ball oddly enough.

This wasn't something I expected.. I expected to have issues with the girl if I am honest..

 

[Debbie292d]

The thing is.. the girl just doesn't care, it's not that she leaves or not leaves them. She just doesn't have any interest in them at all. The one that seems fixated is the more trained one (older) but I'd had to do hard cut offs with his commands to get him to even leave the room the brooder is in. I'm a little hopeful that maybe he'll settle once they start clucking instead of this squeak they have going on as they sound similar to his ball oddly enough.

This wasn't something I expected.. I expected to have issues with the girl if I am honest..

You can at least be thankful neither has any notions of harming them. Most border collies wouldn't, but of course that's not true for every one of them. I've heard some had to be trained.

Maybe in time with them seeing you working with the chickens and not them, they'll start taking a little more of an interest.

I'm actually surprised our eggs are fertile as ours breaks up mating if she sees it. At least you don't have that to worry about.

 

[Rosekitten]

You can at least be thankful neither has any notions of harming them. Most border collies wouldn't, but of course that's not true for every one of them. I've heard some had to be trained.

Maybe in time with them seeing you working with the chickens and not them, they'll start taking a little more of an interest.

I'm actually surprised our eggs are fertile as ours breaks up mating if she sees it. At least you don't have that to worry about.

I keep telling the boy that he better make friends with that rooster in the group.. XD it'll be at least a 10 pound bird if not 12 when fully grown from being a cochin. Not that they are known to be mean.. but if he nips at or chases one of the hens it may be a mess around and find out moment heh.

But yeah neither are going to be left alone with the birds till I know it's safe for both sides.. they are smart dogs so I hope it's just a time and adjustment thing.

I've had a dog before that I couldn't have near birds.. but being fair it was a lab mix so I'm not really shocked by that one.