Opinion on defending your chickens

[Titansfan]

I reside outside of town and have backyard chickens.  Daughter's 4-H project, so we have 20 at this time.  2-5 get out on a regular basis, despite the clipping of a wing.  Yes, we clip on wing, so there attempted flight will be unbalanced.  Since June when the young chicks were placed in the yard, I've killed 3 raccoons and oppossums.  I typically use a live trap and finish off with a .22

 

We have new neighbors on our south and they have 4 dogs.  2 little one, and two larger pit bulls.  One of the pitbulls got loose and made a beeline to the chickens and was runnng after one.  My 11-year old ran off the dog.  Neighbors deny it was there dog but my daughter described the dog with detail.  We've told the neighbors that loose aggressive dogs will meet the business end of an AR-15.  Since then, there have been no issues.  Occasionaly. the chickens will wonder of to their place and come back.  I understand if the chicken wonder to their place, we have no authority.