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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel annoyed by my neighbour's complaints about rats?

136 replies

Becnextdoor · 19/05/2026 22:50

Do not have many neighbours, only 4 on our street. I live next to this lady, detached houses but our garden is seperated with a hedge if that makes sense. She has lived in that house for 4 years and we used to get along in a good neighbour way - as she lived alone I would often do garden work for her and she came round for a family barbecue once a year, normal neighbour stuff.
We (me and my wife) have had pet chickens for about 7 years now, they are located near the connecting hedge, out of her sight, and she’s never had a problem with them, however the chickens have randomly just now started getting rats, and as a result some of them have gone in her garden, she has messaged to complain, and came round twice to complain, all in the same week, after the first complaint we told her we were dealing with it - as we were, however rat traps take time and don’t work instantly, however, she kept coming round and telling us it was our problem and we need to sort it, and getting progressively annoyed, even though we were managing with it. We payed for pest control to come today, and they even went and spoke to her about how it was getting sorted - as we were tired of her continuous complaints, I didn’t even get a ‘thank you’ or anything, and even after the pest control she is still complaining. She is about 40 years old and a lot of her money is “mummy’s money”, private school and parents brought her a nice house in a nice area, so especially with knowing that, we really think she’s just acting abit entitled now. We are probably going to fall out with our neighbour over this, are we in the wrong for being annoyed? edit: The rats only started coming the same week she got a new cat and dog, she’s also recently had an oil spill - which apparently can attract rats, I don’t know if that’s relevant but.

OP posts:
Buzyizzy217 · 20/05/2026 07:59

We are all 67 feet away from a rat, it’s a fact of life. They were here before us and will be here after we’ve gone. I’m sure the pest control company will sort it out. I’m assuming if you have chickens that you’re not in the centre of a city and presumably have a decent garden. If she wants a sterile environment, I’d suggest she moves to an island on her own. You’re clearly addressing the issue. Good luck.

amber763 · 20/05/2026 08:00

You wanted her to thank you for arranging pest control to come and deal with the rats your chickens inevitably attracted? You need to get rid of the chickens. She is not in the wrong.

Becnextdoor · 20/05/2026 08:21

Buzyizzy217 · 20/05/2026 07:59

We are all 67 feet away from a rat, it’s a fact of life. They were here before us and will be here after we’ve gone. I’m sure the pest control company will sort it out. I’m assuming if you have chickens that you’re not in the centre of a city and presumably have a decent garden. If she wants a sterile environment, I’d suggest she moves to an island on her own. You’re clearly addressing the issue. Good luck.

🙏🏼. We live next to a forest, in fact her garden is connected to it. I would understand her problem if we weren’t doing anything about it, but we did the second she called.

OP posts:
capybaraforlife · 20/05/2026 08:35

i've had chickens for over 10 years and never had a single rat. are they attracted to the chicken food, is it being kept out at night?

how many rats are we talking for her to react like this...i couldn't bring myself to get too worked up about it, but maybe we are talking rivers of the furry blighters?!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 20/05/2026 08:47

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 19/05/2026 22:55

I'm sorry but you sound awful.

I have no idea what "mummy's money" means, or why private school or the question of who paid for her house is remotely relevant to your post.

You have caused a rat problem. She doesn't want rats in her garden. You haven't dealt with it quickly enough. Of course she is going to complain.

And if it’s not her own money then she’s probably worried about how she’ll afford pest control if they invade her house . You need to get rid of the chickens

lightreceiver · 20/05/2026 08:47

Becnextdoor · 20/05/2026 08:21

🙏🏼. We live next to a forest, in fact her garden is connected to it. I would understand her problem if we weren’t doing anything about it, but we did the second she called.

Edited

Are you seriously still trying to justify your attitude? Mind boggling.

Oh and nice one posting a picture of her pet on a public forum.

Becnextdoor · 20/05/2026 08:47

capybaraforlife · 20/05/2026 08:35

i've had chickens for over 10 years and never had a single rat. are they attracted to the chicken food, is it being kept out at night?

how many rats are we talking for her to react like this...i couldn't bring myself to get too worked up about it, but maybe we are talking rivers of the furry blighters?!

Apparently she saw 3 in her garden, so a few and I get her concern, but the second she mentioned it we started sorting it so, don’t think she needs to grief us as much.

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 20/05/2026 08:47

amber763 · 20/05/2026 08:00

You wanted her to thank you for arranging pest control to come and deal with the rats your chickens inevitably attracted? You need to get rid of the chickens. She is not in the wrong.

I agree

VickyEadie · 20/05/2026 08:58

I had to give up the volunteering work I was doing because the owner of the site (it was a small animal rescue) kept chickens and as a result, the site was overrun by rats - every time I went, there were rats truffling about in the chicken enclosure. She thought it was "cute watching them play". I thought it was a health hazard and voted with my feet.

YABU both to be annoyed that she wants you to take action and that she isn't beside herself with gratitude. YABVU to refer to her schooling and upbringing/wealth. So what? I'm a coal miner's daughter brought up in a council house, went to comprehensive school and inherited bod all. I'd take the same attitude as your neighbour.

IrrationallyAngry · 20/05/2026 09:05

@Becnextdoor
You only clean your chickens' pen once a week? That's horrible. You need to clean up any food they haven't eaten every single day. No wonder you have rats!

ExitPursuedByABare · 20/05/2026 09:20

You don’t allow your neighbour to do anything.

Cant believe your sense of entitlement.

Safarisagoody · 20/05/2026 09:23

id have assumed this was a reverse. Surely no one is this unreasonable and judgemental.

Boomer55 · 20/05/2026 09:34

I wouldn’t want rats in my garden because a neighbour had caused the problem, and now wants a round of applause for offering to try and sort it out. 🤷‍♀️

NormasArse · 20/05/2026 09:36

Becnextdoor · 19/05/2026 22:50

Do not have many neighbours, only 4 on our street. I live next to this lady, detached houses but our garden is seperated with a hedge if that makes sense. She has lived in that house for 4 years and we used to get along in a good neighbour way - as she lived alone I would often do garden work for her and she came round for a family barbecue once a year, normal neighbour stuff.
We (me and my wife) have had pet chickens for about 7 years now, they are located near the connecting hedge, out of her sight, and she’s never had a problem with them, however the chickens have randomly just now started getting rats, and as a result some of them have gone in her garden, she has messaged to complain, and came round twice to complain, all in the same week, after the first complaint we told her we were dealing with it - as we were, however rat traps take time and don’t work instantly, however, she kept coming round and telling us it was our problem and we need to sort it, and getting progressively annoyed, even though we were managing with it. We payed for pest control to come today, and they even went and spoke to her about how it was getting sorted - as we were tired of her continuous complaints, I didn’t even get a ‘thank you’ or anything, and even after the pest control she is still complaining. She is about 40 years old and a lot of her money is “mummy’s money”, private school and parents brought her a nice house in a nice area, so especially with knowing that, we really think she’s just acting abit entitled now. We are probably going to fall out with our neighbour over this, are we in the wrong for being annoyed? edit: The rats only started coming the same week she got a new cat and dog, she’s also recently had an oil spill - which apparently can attract rats, I don’t know if that’s relevant but.

What the fuck has her money got to do with this?

Priceyyy · 20/05/2026 09:36

Tableforjoan · 19/05/2026 22:57

Yabu.

There are rats because of your chickens. Why would she thank you for getting pest control out 🤣🤣

This.

NormasArse · 20/05/2026 09:38

Becnextdoor · 20/05/2026 01:38

All very real pets thank you, her previous cat dies and she replaced it with a new cat and dog. Thank you for all the replies, I’ve been reading through them.

I really hope she sees this….

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/05/2026 09:47

Get a grandpa feeder for your chickens and ensure you have rat boxes out all the time. Also put fine chicken wire on your chicken run to stop them squeezing through the gaps - although that won’t stop rats digging under it but it will make it harder to do a quick grab.

PurpleNightingale · 20/05/2026 09:47

@Becnextdoor I'm actually more with you on this one, you are taking steps to address it and that would be enough for me.

My neighbours keep fancy pigeons right by our shared fence, we have had mice and rats in the garden too (not seen them but seen the evidence they have been there). I don't love it but I don't much mind as long as they aren't in the house.

We get foxes and badgers in the garden too which are far more destructive and I think are providing natural pest control. I'm not sure I'd want rat poison down with the chance that cats/ foxes/ badgers might eat the poisoned rats. Is that not a worry?

I used to keep gerbils, hamsters and rats as pets as a child though so perhaps don't have the same worry if I ever happen to see one in the wild. I'd keep my distance but they don't scare me.

AltitudeCheck · 20/05/2026 09:51

Rats (and mice and other animals) are part of rural living, I bet there were rats nearby long before she spotted them! Some people are get especially crazy about rats though and I think you just have to do everything you can (which you are) and apologise/ reassure her. Unfortunately now she will be on the lookout and continue to blame your chickens :(

ToKittyornottoKitty · 20/05/2026 09:52

Becnextdoor · 20/05/2026 08:47

Apparently she saw 3 in her garden, so a few and I get her concern, but the second she mentioned it we started sorting it so, don’t think she needs to grief us as much.

So you’ve clearly not paid attention to the replies

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/05/2026 09:53

Neighbours at the back of me a few doors down have chickens and yes we have rats in the local gardens, only the odd one mind you and mostly dead. I don’t mind seeing the odd one but when my cat caught 2 recently (thankfully outside) I was a bit pissed off. However she’s stopped now.

Vinvertebrate · 20/05/2026 09:54

Neighbour is perfectly reasonable. Rats are vile and 4 days to get pest control over is a piss-take. We live by water and have the rat-man (and his trusty Airedale) on speed dial.

My 3 year old car was essentially written off as a result of rats eating the fuel pipe, engine casing and most of the electrics. Vermin is not something that can sensibly be ignored.

CatMum27 · 20/05/2026 10:02

Two of my neighbours (outskirts of a city) keep chickens. One keeps a range of other birds as well - their garden is full of aviaries. We live in ex-council terrace housing so family sized gardens but on top of each other.

I’ve had no end of issues with rats since they started keeping the birds. They’ve been in the garden and worse, got into my house. I had to get pest control out at my own expense (you’ll be relieved to hear not Mummy’s). Pest control company told me it was almost certain neighbours chickens were the source.

This is on you. It’s perfectly acceptable for her to not want your vermin on her property and to ask you about it. She may have a phobia, she may be worried given recent news reports about Hantavirus or she might just not want visible rats in her space. Knowing that rats exist is very different to seeing them in your garden. You certainly don’t deserve praise for doing the bare minimum and calling pest control.

Buzyizzy217 · 20/05/2026 10:02

What an outrageous post. Rats are everywhere, just because you haven’t seen one, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. And no, of course she doesn’t need to “get rid” of her chickens.

LaLoba · 20/05/2026 10:03

capybaraforlife · 20/05/2026 08:35

i've had chickens for over 10 years and never had a single rat. are they attracted to the chicken food, is it being kept out at night?

how many rats are we talking for her to react like this...i couldn't bring myself to get too worked up about it, but maybe we are talking rivers of the furry blighters?!

Me too, I kept them for 10 years, no problems at all. Taking the food dispensers in to clean in the evening, shutting the coop at dusk and daily spot cleans as well as the weekly deep clean meant I had no pest problems.
(Don’t get me started on people who don’t secure the coop at night, then call in exterminators for foxes).

If you leave out free food for wildlife, they will come. It’s your problem to fix OP, and your neighbour isn’t unreasonable.