My next-door neighbour saw one rat on Thursday morning and kicked up such a fuss. He's never been keen on me having chickens and after almost five years of living next door to chickens, saw one rat. He was, as he said "VERY ANNOYED ABOUT THIS" in a loud intimidating voice. He phoned the council out to sort the rat problem, that he was convinced originated from our chickens. He had me very worried that the council could insist that I get rid of my precious chickens.
Well the council "rat man" came out, found and sorted a nest of rats in their garden and one in ours.
Now that soon shut him up. He has been feeding wild birds and he had his own little colony and the one he saw was probably his rat!
That sut him up!