To report my local park to the RSPCA

[WhatLarks]

I took DS to our local park today, where they have an aviary. I am not a fan of birds in cages, but DS likes looking at animals.

In one of the cages there was a duck. His feathers looked really manky and dirty, and except for a small bowl of drinking water there was no other water. I would have thought that a duck should have somewhere to swim and wash himself at all times.

I thought about reporting it, but don't know if it would be OTT. The place is run by the council, would they have taken advice from animal welfare people?

AIBU?

YANBU - I love ducks

report it :(

Was the duck on it's own in a cage? It may have been ill and being kept separate to allow it to recover and feed away from the rest - ducks can be real bullies!

Does sound a bit sad. Certainly worth a call to the RSPCA

I don't think it's being OTT at all and it would definitely get some advice from the RSPCA.

I'd report it. It sounds like it's there for decoration purely. Nice.

No, I would say something but maybe speak to the council body that runs the avery first? Raising a polite concern seems reasonable to me. Then go back in a while and if nothings been done then maybe consider speaking to the RSPCA? There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation but there might not.

I would first ask the council what was going on with the duck and then if no explanation is offered then I'd report it to the RSPCA! The duck should be by a lake so he can swim and if he's not there recovering from an injury or any other reason he is kept in a cage as opposed to somewhere more suitable, then this doesn't sound like a suitable set up. At very leAst poor duck needs a water source big enough to swim in and preen.

Ducks don't need water to swim in - if they want to wash they will dibble their head in a bowl of water and splash it over themselves, but mostly to keep clean they preen with their beak.

They only really need it to mate in. Happy with some in a bowl for everything else.

If he is filthy then the current water provided either needs changing or a bigger bowl given :)

Thank you for advice. I will phone council in 1st instance, I think, as would feel daft if poor duck was ill. Will let you know ....

Ducks are pretty scruffy things and all birds make a terrible mess, esp. if they get wet. Ducks don't necessarily need a pond to spend their time in, but they might find it easier to keep clean if they do have access to bathing water.

I'd try to enquire of the management first (it might prove to be a poorly duck already receiving vet attention). If you couldn't find a manager or their answer was unsatisfactory, then report to RSPCA.

Better to report it,just in case.

I have seen children's blow up paddling pool put into a cage, in my local farm, when a duck has needed segregating to get well. A very large dog dish,is needed, at least.

It doesn't ssound enough water, tbh.

YABU for bothering with the RSPCA. They are next to useless.
Also, ducks are horrible manky creatures by nature. Their big flappy feet turn everything to mud, and as they don't swallow, but dip their beaks in the water to scoop it up and wash the food down, everything ends up full of food particles and generally rancid! And duck shit gets EVERYWHERE.

Speak to the council. The RSPCA will not give a stuff.

I was going to say, is it not the RSPB?

:( all the more reason for the poor thing to be in a pond saggy. Hopefully it's all a misunderstanding and the duck is undergoing treatment or needs to be separated for some reason. Saggy is right in saying they do make a right mess but it sounds like perhaps more of an effort needs to be made in keeping duck a bit cleaner maybe by giving him the chance to clean his feathers under a shower of wAter from a hose ( not the hard full on jet but the setting you would use to gently water flowers ) hope the council manages to put your mind at rest and the duck is well looked after. :)

my mum has to clean her ducks out every single day, they are messy things.

but if you are concered speak to the council