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
The problem with resolving the situation comes down to resources. Does your area have an effective and quick animal control department?
If so, this is exactly why such agencies exist.
If not, then you have to decide how many chickens are worth feeding to the dogs.
Sadly, feral dogs, half feral dogs, and pets with zero restraint are a problem that often ends in the death of something. Me? I have a "mine first" rule. As much as I love dogs, anything coming after my chickens is target practice. Might not shoot whatever it is this far into town, but there's other ranged items.
If I had a reasonable belief that the dogs have a human neglecting them enough to get in my yard and fuck with my birds, chances are I'm going to put a foot up their ass as well. This isn't hypothetical, btw, I damn near put my foot up a guy's ass because of his shitty dog responsiblity, and only the fact that our rooster literally broke a spur off in the dog's ass while running it off kept the dog alive.
The ugly truth is that those two dogs, without human intervention, have already killed something. At this point, they will kill something else. The only question is what. Another chicken? Another dog? A cat? A kid? You ran them off and they came back. Those dogs are determined and dangerous.
Doesn't mean they can't be saved, just that it'll take a human intervening and taking charge of them. How much can you put into that?