English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

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Fence construction well underway. None of neighbor's dogs evident today, none. Fence will be 5' tall everywhere except gate. Pup Pup and Flo can clear a 6' fence already, but few neighbors' dogs and none of the livestock will be able to do the same. Three nice paddocks will be formed out of this.
 
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We had yet another even more intense round after work today. Fence not yet completed. Son and I were feeding and watering chickens penned in the yard when we started to hear chickens in barn cackling and Flo barking. Then is it was quickly followed by neighbor's dogs barking in the barn too. Son and our remaining three dogs made beeline for barn. Neighbor dogs retreated to where or inner fence was until yesterday. Their owners were very close behind the dogs on our side of outer perimeter fence which is why neighbor dogs turned to face mine. Then the scuffle got going in a big way with multiple dogs getting bit. A smaller dog I have not seen before came in as well as another larger husky that was much more willing to fight. Lucy and Honey went after her. Pup Pup and Flo targeted the male pit bull and had him yipping a couple times as Pup Pup or Flo would bite a rear leg while sister tormented from the front. He also got Pup Pup down before Flo knocked him down where both females went to work on him making him yip even more. Male owner then came into view with little dog trying to pile in which was almost a fatal mistake as both my young dogs and Lucy focused attention on him (the small dog). They would have killed him very quickly if I did not work to get mine back quickly and long enough for male owner to actually get into middle of fight. Pitbull came back in to be by owner where Pup Pup, Flo and Lucy began attacking the dogs at owner's feet. Owner tried to pick up both of his dogs as mine attacked. I suggested he carry little dog back so he does not get killed and pitbull will get back in his own with just a few bites. My dogs were even trying to pull his dogs out of their owner's arms as he carried them. I called my dogs back to my feet and got them to follow my son and I back to barn.

Owners said nothing to us the entire time. I'm quite confident they are extremely upset. I'll be surprised if they do not call or visit before night is up. This type of mess I do not recall seeing previously on this site, nor heard of one so complex. Most people would have called already. I going to do it now.
 
Since the attack obviously began on your property then the neighbors know there is nothing for them to report to authorities because they are 100% at fault for failing to control your animals. With their increasing audacity I expect it will happen again. It may be time to involve authorities to begin a documentation of their encroachments. Documentation through video and authority reports won't prevent a tragedy, but they will protect you from some legal headaches.
It may help to contact a local dog law officer to discuss your options and anything you may need to do on your end. This may not be the first time these people have had complaints about their uncontrolled pack, authorities may already know them or will at least be able to investigate for previous violations, even if they occurred at prior residences.
If your dogs have open wounds a call to the vet may be wise to see if they need boosters on their rabies or other treatments. Dog bites are notorious for infections.
 
We are up on vaccinations. No injuries to my dogs this round. Male owner may have been bitten, likely by his own dog. I still do not think they (owners) are trying to be overly aggressive, but they have not been taking things seriously. I have dealt with owners that were aggressive or otherwise deceptive. It does not make me feel good when county cops have had to visit me about my dog problems so many times, although not recently. Dog problems for me stopped once I got more than one, until this mess started.
 
Prolonged conversation with county law enforcement indicates only state laws apply here so I cannot have anything done about dogs running loose. I can shoot dogs going after chickens or my dogs or my family when on my land. I can also setup to deal with trespassers by first posting (purple paint and signs) property boundaries and getting photographs of incursions. Game cameras will be redeployed for that. I already have pictures of dogs, but that will not help with trespassing issue.

While I was talking to officer, dispatch directed him to another dog problem he had to deal with.

I like so my dogs can run on my property. I have more land than those with the problematic dogs because I have what is needed. I even have enough pens to contain all my dogs in their own 10' x 10' kennels. The onus will be on me to keep dogs out by spending a lot more on my fencing.
 

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