Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

Well I must be cruel then because we keep ducks and my DS used to chase them around the garden when he was 3 🤣
But seriously I think it's harmless as long as it's not going on for a long time. I frequently have to chicken or duck chase if they get out of their pen, it's better than letting the dog chase them.

pigeons no but seagulls yes?

weird

Why do you think a pigeon deserves pain and fear but a duck doesn’t?

Showing yourself to be dick.

I don’t mind if they chase off seagulls. We are often inundated and have had a number of picnics ruined by them so it seems like self preservation. I used to work at a place that fed the birds and all the outside space was covered in bird shit. Lots of wild geese too who seemed to do these enormous sticky poos that needed scrubbed off the decking. Fair enough to feed birds in the winter but it’s unnecessary year round when food is more plentiful.

How would you feel if a massive giant chased you around and put you in fear of your life? Pity your poor kids being taught by someone with such a shitty moral compass.

For all those wildlife experts here, have you considered that maybe, only maybe, the ducks find it fun?

How do you explain they come back every time to that exact same place?

IMO it's not OK to deliberately frighten any animal or person unless that entity is threatening you.

@Motomum23 but you don't need to eat meat. It's for enjoyment (or, some could argue, entertainment). You eat it because you like it. Kids chase ducks because they like it. Yes, it's stressful for ducks, but so to are farm animals when they go to slaughter.
By the way, I'm not saying everyone should be vegetarian. I just don't understand the argument that some animals are more important than others.

No it’s not. I was in St James Park a few months back and two teen girls were chasing a goose, for ages. The mother was filming them laughing. When one threw her jumper at the poor goose I shouted over to stop doing that. They both stopped, the mother didn’t say anything but she was further back at that point. I hate it and I never let any of my 3 chase animals.

No - only seagulls

For those who think it's okay to chase wildlife, please could you answer - Why is okay to scare a sentient creature? Do you have children? A dog? A cat? Can I come round and chase after them until their hearts are racing and they are terrified? How about your mum (or pick any other relative or friend you care about)? Are they fair game? I'll wear a mask and carry a machete just for fun too...

You may say that's just ridiculous and over the top and obviously not okay. But would your kids / relative understand I was just having a bit of fun and don't actually want to harm them if I appeared out of the blue and ran at them waving my machete? Same kind of terror for ducks and pigeons, they don't understand it's "just" a kid having fun, something 20 times their size is running at them. They have feelings just like humans do, just because they can't express their terror does not make it okay. At all.

Wildlife should be let be. Chasing ducks/pigeons isn't fair on the wildlife and when they all start flapping around it's unpleasant for people around as well. I probably wouldn't have said anything directly, but would likely remind my son loudly in front of them that you don't frighten the ducks.
We had an incident recently in Richmond Park; we were coming back from our walk with a 1year old and our dog and could see a stag about a few metres away from our parked car. We hung back, put our dog on a lead and were waiting for the stag to leave as we didn't want to stress the stag. A family then came up and started feeding it!! My husband went ahead and asked them to leave the stag as it is actually dangerous and they refused. Luckily a much more forceful cyclist stopped and gave them a bit of a tongue-lashing and they did clear away. Some people just aren't brought up to have respect for wildlife unfortunately.

Kids chasing animals is one of the only situations where I will step in as a stranger to tell them off.

It's not okay, the other day I saw a toddler near some ducks and the parents were saying "run and say boo!" Tot starts running towards a lake (🤦🏻‍♀️) they realise that mistake and grab hold of him then they said "that's its and say boo!!" "Boo!" some birds fly away "That's it good boy!!"

WTF!!!! I was actually speechless!

No.

@ForGreyKoala don't be so rude. I don't need to grow up. Why don't you have a think about the farming practices of animals, and then about a few kids chases a few ducks. It is double think. Maybe you need to do a bit of logical reasoning.

Karma

Indeed! Mumsnet though, where the little darlings are rarely told no

If people won't stop their children doing this out of concern for the animals- please consider that when the pigeons take off in a big agitated flock they also tend to shit everywhere. Not pleasant for the people underneath

No 'maybe' about it....is there?

No it's not OK to chase ducks. Or pigeons, or any other wildlife either.

Totally agree.
I bet those same people are fine if it is dogs chasing birds and squirrels.

Yeah, maybe!

My 2 year old loves to chase birds at the park. Maybe I should stop him after this thread!?

It's sad that you even have to ask.