When a dog is on its own property, it's a pet. When someone else's dog is on my property, it's a predator. Simple as pie.
As long as the same thing applies to any chickens that happen to get loose that is fair
Well, I
doubt anyone would consider a chicken a predator. They aren't going to attack, maim or kill the neighbor's dog.
Dang, that would be one scary chicken!
If you even read the other things I wrote, a larger portion of my property is perimeter fenced and within that fence, pens are attached to the coops. So, if a dog is on my property, he has made a huge effort to be there. If one chicken manages to get off my property somehow, by flying out or whatever, in spite of my considerable efforts, and is killed by a dog, it's tragic, but just an accident and my chicken hasn't endangered any humans or other livestock during her escape.
Wouldn't blame the dog a bit if my chicken was on someone else's property and got killed, but I go to
great lengths to be sure that does not happen. I expect the same from the dog owner. If you want to get really technical, the law doesn't give me penalties if a chicken roams off my property-no leash law for chickens, but I do try to be a good neighbor, obey all laws, keep my animals on my property. Can't say the same for most country dog owners around here.
Securing your yard so chickens cannot escape generally is more than enough to keep a dog out.
Usually, but not always, as witnessed by other parts of my previous post. Still, if I choose to free range my birds and they are on my property and the dog is OFF his (against county law), it's still the dog owner's fault and whatever happens to the dog is fitting. Dog owners who allow their dogs to roam or habitually escape should expect them to one day just not return home.