Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

[QuackersQuestion]

Today at a family attraction, there were quite a lot of ducks, and a big lake. Lots of space for kids to run around.

Two primary age kids were chasing ducks around. The parent was loosely with them, could see what the kids were doing, and allowed the kids to continue to chase the ducks. Probably for about five minutes. No contact made with the ducks, just chasing right behind.

Another member of the public came into view, with their own family. And called out firmly but calmly to the two kids "Don't chase the ducks, that's wrong". This was the only person to comment out of quite a few passers by.

The kids ran away, the parent was shocked but said nothing, the commenting member of public kept walking. No great drama.

But it got me thinking. So my question is, is it bad for kids to chase ducks - YABU. Or is it ok for kids to chase ducks - YANBU. If you don't think it's ok, would you tell a kid who was chasing ducks, to stop?

It's the same hysterical MN land where people drag children across petrol station forecourts instead of leaving them in the car like everyone else 😂 of course the birds don't mind, they'd move somewhere quieter if they did!
Wait until you see how violent it is when ducks mate. I grew up in the countryside and was very used to seeing 3 males pinning down a squawking female!
They aren't traumatised by a toddler chasing them. They don't even bother to actually fly off they know the kids can't get to them.

I don't let my children do it but it infuriates me that my MIL encourages them to chase ducks and pigeons. She's in her 80s but seems to think it's the most hilarious thing to do. Drives me mad!

they'd move somewhere quieter if they did

they know the kids can't get to them

exactly.

Oh my god, that's horrible

He's got many pets at home and shows nothing but tender care towards them. He's never lashed out at an animal. He's even gentle with insects. He's just not stupid he can see that he isn't causing distress to the birds- hence why they came straight back to him for more seed

100%. Especially if they thinks it’s ‘fun’. Bizarre way to enjoy yourself or let your kids enjoy yourself.

Wild animals are not there to be sources of fun for people, including familiar creatures like pigeons and ducks even if feral rather than truly wild. Leave them alone. Teach your children not to disturb animals, and to be kind to them. Obviously.

@Wavescrashingonthebeach , your little boy sounds lovely and is very lucky to be growing up with pets of his own.
Lots of the children who come to my local park can’t tell the difference between birds. They chase ducks, swans even very young moorhen chicks. One little lad was trying to poke the young coots out of their nest with a stick.

There's a fairly well lubricated pipeline between abusing animals and abusing humans. Might sound alarmist and extreme, but it's true.

They’re both abusing animals 🤷‍♀️

Oh give over. Go to any beach and what will you see? Dogs chasing each other. Watch birds -they chase each other. There's a world of difference between play and an actual attack.
Ducks are competent fliers they can fly a decent distance- no one is forcing them to live there. They choose to be around all the crazy kids and not some really quiet stretch of the canal.

Thank you he is lovely he even told me to be careful this morning not to wreck a spider web that was outside.
Now it's not on for children to disturb nesting birds and they certainly shouldn't be coming at any animal with a stick.

It's a great idea - in fact, I'd really recommend they graduate to chasing large swans or Canada geese in a place with lots of people around, as soon as they can (as they'll most likely come off scared and a lot worse in that situation, and then they might realise they shouldn't try it with living things that are smaller than them either).
Karma...

In which case, you should be fair game too then.

Lots of sharks swim towards humans because they’re curious but I bet you wouldn’t be happy if you were in the sea and a shark was swimming at you and I told you it was fine. You’d be stressed and trying to get away.
Yes you might get out of the sea and never go back but other animals don’t have that luxury.

Ducks often have their wings clipped in certain spaces and as another poster pointed out they lose certain feathers and can’t fly at this time of year.

They choose to be there because sometimes the need for food is greater than the fear.

Animals chasing their own species isn’t the same.

Birds don’t chase for fun either, they are being aggressive or sexual. They are not a species that behaves that way.

But you keep letting your kids run feral. Won’t be cute when they mess with a swan or goose.

I grew up around farmland I'm not stupid 😂😂😂😂😂.

And me and my children don't eat animals either.

Please do tell me you don't eat animals also?

I'm not entirely sure how stressful the ducks would find it, and that's more than enough reason I'd tell my DC not to do it. Animals don't exist for the fun of children so should be left in peace to do what they do. Looking at them is fine, but anything that disturbs them, not fine. I'd apply that to all animals.

I wonder if it changes people's views when I say that the kids in question were probably 7/8/9 years old. Two of them. I don't think any intent to injure, they were just 'having fun'.

Doesn't change my view whatsoever. They're still brats and they're being 'parented' by bigger brats.

I’ve already addressed this, I don’t, but again it’s a straw man. The two are not related because you also do a load of other things that harm animals in one way or another so it’s not relevant.

Plus this is a discussion about chasing animals. It’s not okay, lots of research has been done on this sort of things and it’s not okay in any circumstance. It baffles me that you’d think a giant kid running and birds acceptable.

But you’ll be chilled with that shark coming at you then because it’s just curious so it’s okay, huh. You won’t be able to tell the difference but that doesn’t matter because the shark doesn’t mean it and its mum thinks it’s cute.

I don't really think sharks have anything to do with this.
I'd never let my child hurt any animal.
But it isn't traumatising park birds if a small child who quite clearly can't get to them is coming towards them. The birds aren't stupid.

They don't have to be bright to feel fear and/or distress do they? It is instinct that an animal will run away or fly away from something that could cause them harm.

Its an example of how you would feel in the position of an animal with the argument that your child doesn’t mean any harm and how an animal cannot differentiate - the don’t know that your child isn’t going to kick them or eat them. They come back because he has food, end of.

Okay, you do you, I can’t be bothered to keep repeating myself about the basics of bird biology.

You’re going to continue to do what you do, but you need to teach your child that not all are equal and that a swan or goose or different species may not respond in the same way to being chased or deliberately frightened by him. Even a squirrel got aggressive round our ways a few years back and a small boy had to go to hospital to have tetanus injections after being on the receiving end of a squirrel who was done with being taunted and aggression from kids.

Have a nice day.

Yes dogs chase each other when they are playing but I have never seen birds chasing and playing each other. I have only seen a bird chase another when it is trying to make the other bird go away. They chase and attack and can be quite vicious

"I wonder if it changes people's views when I say that the kids in question were probably 7/8/9 years old. Two of them. I don't think any intent to injure, they were just 'having fun'."

So at what age is do you start to teach children not to torment animals then? I'd say the younger the better wouldn't you. Whether they intended to injure or not (and I've seen many sadistic little darlings) is not the point. They are causing distress to a living creature in the name of "fun". That's not what I'd call fun and I wouldn't want my children to think so either. It's pretty sad and depressing really to think that causing distress to anything is seen as funny.

Dogs chasing each other. Watch birds -they chase each other. There's a world of difference between play and an actual attack.

right. You know what else chase each other? Kids!

Bonkers thread.