So 3 weeks ago I had 2 blue (pitbulls?) come by one male one female, jumping at my 20x10ft cage trying to get in. Luckily I walked out there, they friendly to people, I told them to cut it out and go away, and they left. This afternoon between 2-4pm they came back and broke through the wire to get to the chickens, the one missexed rooster fought them to his death, and all the hens survived. I wrapped the bottom 2.5 feet of entry with stronger metal wiring to reinforce it. They came back at 11pm. (They leaped over after tearing through the weaker part up top). I had to let one out) First off hats off to a rooster that fights off 140lbs of dogs. (Picture below for sorrow). Second, I will re-inforce further, but what would you/should I do. My spouse wants me to shoot them, and I am very much a dog lover and believe the female dog was recently pregnant so I think they are out trying to provide.... I'm trying to avoid shooting them at any cost. It's Tennessee. She grew up here. Her mindset is it's killing our livestock, kill it. I'm very much re-inforce, and figure out if we can find who owns them and make sure they know what's going on... What would you do?
Rest in peace knight of the chickens
Salt or shell shot is what people used in the rural south when I was growing up. Like bird shot in a .22 was typical. It is not lethal, especially from distance, but it is a lesson they will never forget. It is not something I condone or recommend. In the city or suburbs, this sounds cruel or insane, but people don't tend to have the life experience in rural environments. I remember encountering a pack of dogs near some woods that acted as unsettlingly wild and dangerous as a pack of wolves, and unlike anything in the city. If you're dealing with danger like that, you have to protect yourself and family.
You could try to electrify the fence and see if that stops them.
Yeah, we would be talking around 7 meters or 21 feet max shot. It's a guarantee hit. I don't want to fire a 9mm, 22LR, .223, at them. Salt gun I don't know if they would feel from there, but yeah it's very much "on the line" of how to scare them away forever and not hurt them