Shamed at the Duck pond.

[GiveMeAUserName123]

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

You're on the side of the angels @GiveMeAUserName123, and getting a predictably rough ride on MN, but you might enjoy this story:

www.snopes.com/fact-check/duck-eats-yeast-quacks-explodes-man-loses-eye/

come back @GiveMeAUserName123

for I am considering a walk to the park tomorrow.
I shall be alone, my children are 24 and 12...

Actually I am not sure I can manage it now.
Aged 45 I might be giving of that childless vibe.

You may well take pity on me and offer me one of your kids or something.

I'd have to decline. They wouldn't understand people like me you see. People that just mind their own business and try not to focus on the intricacies of another's duck food or vessel.

For people like you, I am going to wear odd shoes.

I thank you for your post in advance.

Stranded at the drive in
Branded a fool
What will they say?
Monday at school

Wow OP, you are so cool and funny, not like those squares at the duck pond with their containers

I've fed our wild ducks bread, both white, brown and brioche. They have also had leftover naan and all manner of vegetables. They refuse all of it in flavour of proper duck food. If I do throw bread in they ignore it and the fish eat it.

If you've seen my duck thread you know I get through kilos of the bloody stuff, but if you look for a website called Brinvales feeds they sell a floating Swan and duck food which mine devour. You can buy reasonably small bags so you can take a handful to the park. As it floats like bread too it's easier for them to eat.

If you have nothing else though over winter please do feed bread. It's still better than nothing.

I'm glad it's OK to give bread to ducks again.

DM and I went to a nature reserve and DM had brought frozen peas because she'd read about not giving bread and that peas were good for ducks and they liked them but what actually happened was that the ducks laughed at our peas and went over to the people with the bread.

Ugh what a horrible pile on - many posters should feel ashamed. I hope that the OP has hidden the thread

@LuckyAmy1986

Didn’t realise duck feeding was supposed to be so intricate and precise instead of a relaxing past time

Well
No but They are living beings that need food that is good for them. Not just something to do to pass the time.

Exactly. They aren't there for our cheap entertainment.

These ducks obviously live somewhere that they get lots of wholesome food so a bit of bread won't do them any harm on balance and I'd ignore any judgement. The child was just repeating what he'd been taught, kids do that - dad didn't sound judgmental at all tbf. Please don't feed mouldy food to any animal though. It's no better for them for exactly the same reasons than it is for your kids. I'm judging you a little for that.

Why would you give mouldy bread to ducks? Mould is harmful to eat. It’s ok to give them some bread, but not mouldy bread.

@Doggiedementia

The post was not hilarious. And the judgement of single mothers specifically (why wasn’t the dad with the child a single dad and judged as such?) is appalling.

It seems because he had healthy duck food he's more educated and together therefore must be married. Only educated and together people are married. Only single mums would normally be ignorant enough to feed unhealthy white bread. I think that's what's being implied. I'm not offended in the slightest. Made me giggle - Ive been single long enough not to care about any such judgment but I can see why it touched a nerve with others.

Our local duck pond is ALIVE with RATS attracted by and thriving on the plentiful bread supply. The rats then eat the eggs and chicks of not just the ducks, but other water fowl that are less common. There are signs all over but people still come with their bread.

@GiveMeAUserName123 the only way this really makes any sense is if you meant your title to be “ashamed at the duck pond”. Then I kind of get it, you’re explaining how you felt ashamed because you didn’t know bread wasn’t good for ducks and you felt like you weren’t parenting right compared to the others that were there. The snooty bits about hippy mothers, recycled boxes and you looking like a single mother (?!) are maybe an attempt at humour that backfired.

“Shamed at the duck pond” makes no sense because no-one shamed you. In fact you say that the father was very gracious.

I feel really sad that you thought it was ok to give an animal mouldy food. And that you seem to think “feeding ducks” is primarily a relaxing past time that you have the right to do, bristling when “rules” (ie things you have to do to keep ducks healthy if you’re going to give them food) are introduced.

Please nobody be offended by this fool. I found it funny but not in the way the OP intended. But funny in the way that David Brent is funny. You laugh at him not with him. In her incredibly self conscious attempt to be hilarious the OP has revealed a horrible cringy bias she doesn't even know or understand she has.

The supposedly throwaway comment of 'I'm married' that she just had to get in was a particularly amusing highlight for me.

At a pond with three families already feeding ducks I guess that they won't go short without bread. If you go to any large pond with ducks and geese that is popular with people then take a look closely at the birds and you will see a lot of deformity.

Yabu for judging other people and for feeding ducks bread. It's been common knowledge for years that it's not good for them and attracts rats.

It's implying it's a shameful thing that people would judge you on.

But it's a fact that some people in this world do have bigoted judgemental views. OP, if I read her opening post as she intended it, was imagining a scenario where the smug married lady was possibly one of those who would look judgementally on what she perceived to be a single mum. She wasn't espousing that perspective herself. That was my take anyway.

Why would anyone think you were a single Mum because you were out alone with your DC? I don’t think all married Mother’s walk around with their husband chained to them…

You shouldn’t feed birds bread full stop but people still do. It isn’t good for them, they can’t digest it well.

"Shamed at the duckpond"' sounds like a track from "Negative Equity" a Smiths album for middle aged people.

Apparently loads of ducks snd geese are starving because no one feeds them bread anymore so have actually seen signs trying to rectify this by saying it IS okay! 😳

Here’s one!

Duck and peas is a classic combination.

@dashoflime

"Shamed at the duckpond"' sounds like a track from "Negative Equity" a Smiths album for middle aged people.

@stevalnamechanger

Feeding bread to them is alright, even slightly moldy bread . The campaign as someone pointed out was to promote other foods being fed as bread is just not the healthiest .

Mouldy bread is now alright. Bread isn't ideal, but mouldy bread is actively harmful. There are loads of things that ducks can eat, but they shouldn't be used as dustbins.