Being rural, all kinds of strange things can happen. Right after dh passed away, his dog disappeared, and I had no outside guard dog anymore.  The dog was a bird dog, but he thought he was a chicken and cat dog, and did a good job letting other dogs know to stay away. He would lie and watch the chickens and never offer to hurt one.  

I thought I could free range the 10 or 12 banties and 8 pigeons that remained after I sold off most of the flock.  One morning, all was well and I let them out as usual.  I heard nothing in the house, but when next I went out in late afternoon, white roller pigeon bodies were strewn all over the run.  They could have flown out. Really dumb birds. Only two remained, hiding in the rafter part above the limbs that were the roosts.  Roosts partly knocked down. It was a bloody mess. 

Most of banties were the same.  Banties could also have escaped through an 8 inch square 'door' into the next pen. I don't know why the ones who were outside did not fly up into the trees.  Only five remained, 2 young hens and 3 babies.  It just about broke my heart.  I cried and picked up dead birds, and dug a hole to bury them.  For weeks after that, little clumps of feathers would float around when I mowed around the chicken pen.

The dogs keep coming back.  There are 3 to 5 of them, about 9 months old,thin, mostly white.  I keep a stick of some kind handy when I go out.  They think it is a gun. Being pits, they could easily attack me as well. I don't know if they belong to anyone. I don't dare let the remaining birds out at all.

So, I had to be gone all day last Tuesday.  When I came home, the door to the run was forced open and now I have one pigeon and 2 six month old banty hens. The fence on the other side was pushed in and almost pulled out of the ground where it was buried.

I hate to kill them, but I used to be a good shot back when dh and I did target practice.   

So, do you think I can legally shotgun these vicious dogs?  I am miles outside of the city limits and they don't pick up stray dogs out here.

Thank you for the replies. I am sorry for all your losses as well.  Animals may be livestock, but we get attached to them.  It is so depressing to keep dealing with death. 

So, I hate it, but I will buy a shotgun and plan on killing what is in my sights.  You all are right, it can't go on.  The family across the street up the hill raises horses and these dogs could easily take down a foal when the babies are born.  There are miniature donkeys in another field, and so on.  My street is more like a city street for about one block across from me, but those folks have poodles and little yappy dogs that I am sure they want to keep safe.

Shoot, bury, and keep my mouth shut.   Now I have to figure out what to purchase.