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Shamed at the Duck pond.

337 replies

GiveMeAUserName123 · 19/09/2021 13:02

Took my kids to the duck pond today as we accidentally let close to a whole loaf of bread go mouldy. Instead of waste it I thought we could give it to the ducks…..well!

Got there and there was a mum, who if you was to judge on the spot came across as one of those perfect, kind, loving hippy mums with polite kids, she was handing her children what could only be described as real duck feed, they were pellet like and brown.

Also there across the pond was a dad with his young kid, about 4, throwing in peas from a brown kfraft box that has obviously been recycled.

Then us, I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum, standing there with her two kids throwing bread into the pond out of the plastic wrapper, with (very slight) mould. Completely inorganic and clearly not saving the world.

The young 4 year old said “ducks don’t eat bread” to his dad who was in ear shot of us, he replied that they do sometimes eat bread as he was obviously being polite to us.

Since when did parents become so perfect?

Just felt like a huge fail as we crossed back over the bridge to read a sign that said “bread kills ducks.”

(My kids didn’t notice the sign thank god!)

🤦🏼‍♀️ Fail

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Couchbettato · 19/09/2021 15:19

We give ducks bread all the time. But we don't give them mouldy bread because it can give the ducks botulism.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 19/09/2021 15:22

You might have avoided Mumsnet's ire if you'd at least lined those ducks up in a row and sprinkled some Waitrose seeded bloomer crumbs on the waters in front of them.

But at least you put a smile on the beaks of the ducks.

Next time serenade them with Mouldy Old Dough by Lieutenant Pigeon as you're feeding them and they'll really be quacking with delight.

MarleneDietrichsSmile · 19/09/2021 15:22

OP, you shamed yourself Grin

It does not get more hyper sensitive than that 😂

RedToothBrush · 19/09/2021 15:25

What I find interesting is the OP thinks its worse to be 'shamed' rather than inform people that they are doing something which risks animal welfare and damages the river environment.

Perhaps we should just let people kick dogs rather than shame them for being cruel to animals.

For the record this is what the RSPB say:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-50087990

RSPB tells us in a statement.

"Although ducks and swans can digest all types of bread, too much can leave them feeling full without giving them all of the important vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need."

The RSPB did not know where the poster shared online was put up, or which organisation was behind the campaign.

But like health-conscious humans, it's advised that if you must feed ducks with bread, then you use something other than leftovers from a cheap white loaf.

RSPB England's Twitter account describes granary bread with seeds as "marginally healthier" than white bread, in advice it gave to a concerned wildfowl-feeder.

"Although bread isn't harmful, our advice is to only feed small amounts to birds. We encourage people to use things like sweetcorn, porridge oats and defrosted frozen peas as well as bird seed," adds the RSPB.

HOWEVER too much bread being thrown in one place can affect the biodiversity and pollute the water

canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-wildlife/keeping-our-ducks-healthy/why-is-bread-bad-for-ducks
Why is bread bad for ducks?
With nearly three-quarters of the population throwing their leftover bread into canals, rivers, reservoirs and lakes every year, find out why it's important for us all to feed ducks differently.

5 reasons why bread is bad
Ducks need a varied diet to be healthy. Bread doesn't have much nutritional value and fills the duck's stomach so that it doesn't forage for foods it would naturally eat, which can lead to malnutrition.

Uneaten soggy bread can cause a build-up of bad nutrients, which can lead to more algae growing around water, more diseases and more pests, such as rats.

Throwing bread into a canal or river can create an unnatural overcrowding of bird populations, as the birds will flock to the same location in search of their starchy treat.

Too many ducks or waterfowl in one place can stress the birds and lead to their habitats being damaged.

This also creates excessive amounts of bird droppings, which, along with being smelly and slippery underfoot, can reduce water quality and clog waterways with harmful algae.

So in summary:
Don't feed them mouldy bread
Don't feed them white bread - feed them granary bread
Don't feed them bread where everyone else does, find a quiet alternative spot
Feed them alternatives to bread
Don't stop feeding ducks

And being told how to feed ducks for the best welfare and for the quality of the water / environment more generally is not 'shaming'

And I'm still not sure what being a single mother has got to do with the price of bread.

MsFogi · 19/09/2021 15:33

*"Also there across the pond was a dad with his young kid, about 4, throwing in peas from a brown kfraft box that has obviously been recycled.

Then us, I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum, standing there with her two kids throwing bread into the pond out of the plastic wrapper, with (very slight) mould. Completely inorganic and clearly not saving the world."*

OMG OP - seriously!?! God forbid you looked like a single mother rather than the respectable married woman you are!! I think we need more - when you say single mother, do you mean someone who had children out of wedlock Shock, whose partner left her, who left her partner, whose partner died, or some other scenario that seems to be negative in your eyes?
And as for the father with the kraft box - we need more in order for us to judge him properly. Did he look like a 'single father' or do we all simply assume that because he had peas he should not be judged?
As for the "perfect, kind, loving hippy mums with polite kids" I think everyone on MN will agree that every woman in society is striving to achieve such perfection - that "hippy" perfection that lives up to all societal expectations of women whilst not looking like she has tried too hard to do so Hmm.

dogsdogsdogs · 19/09/2021 15:34

he was only a little kid he was just repeating what he has being told. The dad replied the right way I think. we don't often feed the ducks now but if we do we feed them bread. better fed than starving to death. most parks have taken the don't feed bread signs down now.

ejhhhhh · 19/09/2021 15:38

It sounds like you're the one being judgy OP. The way you've described the other parents just seems a bit off, like it's pretentious to feed the ducks anything other than white bread, which is ridiculous if course because you now know it's not good for them. It seems a bit like a post where you're looking for everyone to pile on and defend you, and criticise the "perfect" parents with their recycled boxes and bird food, just because they're trying to do the right thing. So I won't, and now you know it's not good for them, maybe bring something different to feed the ducks next time?

Bloodypunkrockers · 19/09/2021 15:40

I must be doing single motherhood wrong

I know when to use "have" and "were"

But judge away OP

bringincrazyback · 19/09/2021 15:40

I genuinely don't get why people are accusing the OP of judging single mums. Surely she was picturing a scenario where the 'perfect' mum might be a bit of a judgy person who might judge a single mum?

Not wanting to put words in the OP's mouth, but that was what I presumed when I read it.

butterpuffed · 19/09/2021 15:40

You sound so ignorant. Ducks are living creatures. They aren't employed so people can use them as a past time.

Yes, just leave the pastime of bullying to so many of you MNers on this thread, following each other like sheep.

QueeniesCroft · 19/09/2021 15:40

I breed ducks, and have done for a long time. I wouldn't judge anyone for feeding bread (although other things are certainly better, and my spoilt ducks would refuse it! ). I would judge anyone feeding mouldy bread, though. I wouldn't feed mouldy food to anything. As previously mentioned, it can be fatal to ducks.

KaptainKaveman · 19/09/2021 15:41

To the tune of 'American Boy ' by Estelle / Kanye:

Take me to the pond I'd like to feed the ducks
The bread's a little mouldy but who gives two fucks?
I'd really like to
Judge mums and kids too
Those perfect kind hippie loving mums can bite on my bum. Wink

sorry Kanye.

Doggiedementia · 19/09/2021 15:42

@bringincrazyback

I genuinely don't get why people are accusing the OP of judging single mums. Surely she was picturing a scenario where the 'perfect' mum might be a bit of a judgy person who might judge a single mum?

Not wanting to put words in the OP's mouth, but that was what I presumed when I read it.

She’s saying she looked like a single mum with her mouldy bread in a plastic bag and compared that to the perfect hippie parents.

How the fuck is that not a judgement?

Hen2018 · 19/09/2021 15:43

How appalling to have been thought of as a single mother.

Looks round for husband. Nope, can’t see one here.

Kotatsu · 19/09/2021 15:46

well. All I can say is that I've been known, in a pinch, to cut the mould off bread and toast it for breakfast for myself, let alone ducks.

Cheese too.

Nocutenamesleft · 19/09/2021 15:47

Eh???

I didn’t get this post at all.

LukeEvansWife · 19/09/2021 15:47

I would hope that anyone seeing her feeding ducks MOULDY bread would have judged

Nocutenamesleft · 19/09/2021 15:47

When is mouldy bread being fed to animals ever ok though?!?

Would you feed it to your child?

Mymapuddlington · 19/09/2021 15:48
  1. Being married has nothing to do with it.
  2. Nobody judged you, the dad even stuck up for you.
  3. You were ignorant for A. Not realising that for years people have known you’re not supposed to feed bread to ducks and B. Ignoring the sign that literally says not to feed them bread.
  4. You’re the judgemental one with your ‘hippy mum’ and ‘clearly recycled box’
WoozySnoozy · 19/09/2021 15:50

throwing in peas from a brown kfraft box that has obviously been recycled. just wondering what sort of container one has to use to store their peas to not have it judged?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/09/2021 15:50

Speaking as a single mother, ducks don't like frozen peas, or corn. They just look at you like "We swam all the way over here for this shit?" then drift off disappointed.

Plumtree391 · 19/09/2021 15:50

@GiveMeAUserName123

Think a lot of you clearly missed the point of the post!

Everyone there was the only adult, so they could of all been single or married- that’s not the point!!
They was not judging me. The post clearly indicates how they were a step up at the duck pond whilst I was there with a plastic bag and mouldy bread.

"they could of all been single or married" Could they of indeed.

They was not, was they?
(you did that in your opening post too).

However what is done, is done, it's all over now.

LukeEvansWife · 19/09/2021 15:50

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Speaking as a single mother, ducks don't like frozen peas, or corn. They just look at you like "We swam all the way over here for this shit?" then drift off disappointed.
Ah but do you look like a single mother? Perhaps they are judging you Grin
Doggiedementia · 19/09/2021 15:51

A step up from someone who looked like a single parent.

Hmm
CoralBells · 19/09/2021 15:51

@sittingonacornflake

As a single mother myself, I bristled at the way you worded that.

It's a shame you think you looked worse because you looked like a single mother. I'm not sure what's so terrible about being one to be honest. Other than reading things like this Sad

Me too