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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

480 replies

QuackersQuestion · 02/09/2024 00:26

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?

OP posts:
PolitePearlMoose · 02/09/2024 16:56

This reply has been deleted

This is the work of a previously banned poster.

Ormally · 02/09/2024 16:56

How about 2 large, unsupervised dogs starting to chase children in a park (or perhaps herd them like sheepdogs and snap at them if the children try to go elsewhere)? The dogs love chasing, are probably playing, and would be finding it fun, and acting according to their nature, but might be rather rough, maybe intimidating, and uncontrolled-looking to the children. The children want to stop the game, go back to 'their' fence and the human play park...the dogs don't and can go on for plenty more time.

Would you see this as something to intervene on, or just a natural expression in something powerful and fast that's built to chase but that also has features that could hurt its 'prey'? 'Prey' don't know what their temperaments are like or how exactly to trust the dogs' behaviour (or not)?

If this is different, why?

CoffeeGood · 02/09/2024 16:57

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 16:44

But small children aren’t running at the pigeons with aggression and a weapon?

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But pigeons don't know that do they? They just know something far bigger than them is coming towards them quickly and instinct kicks in. The child is, as far as they know, a predator. Predators cause harm and death.

SilenceInside · 02/09/2024 16:57

Is it? Not for all animals, clearly. Maybe for cats and dogs, if they are in the mood to play. I would never have tried to "play" with my ducks by chasing them, as it's pretty clear to me that they wouldn't see it as play and potentially become distressed.

CoffeeGood · 02/09/2024 16:59

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 16:46

but I would have thought that not chasing living creatures for fun was a pretty basic tenet!

well, no, because chase is a perfectly ordinary, fairly ubiquitous , harmless and often enjoyable animal and human behaviour.

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That's a silly thing to say. There is absolutely nothing ordinary, ubiquitous, harmless or enjoyable in a chase between a child and a pigeon. Certainly not from the point of view of a pigeon anyway!

SilenceInside · 02/09/2024 17:02

Similarly I've never chased a horse to try to "play" with it, and surely people know it's not ok to chase sheep? For "play"!

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:06

Ormally · 02/09/2024 16:56

How about 2 large, unsupervised dogs starting to chase children in a park (or perhaps herd them like sheepdogs and snap at them if the children try to go elsewhere)? The dogs love chasing, are probably playing, and would be finding it fun, and acting according to their nature, but might be rather rough, maybe intimidating, and uncontrolled-looking to the children. The children want to stop the game, go back to 'their' fence and the human play park...the dogs don't and can go on for plenty more time.

Would you see this as something to intervene on, or just a natural expression in something powerful and fast that's built to chase but that also has features that could hurt its 'prey'? 'Prey' don't know what their temperaments are like or how exactly to trust the dogs' behaviour (or not)?

If this is different, why?

perception of danger isn’t just about size which is what I think everyone on this thread seems to be missing/ assuming? A small child is no danger to a pigeon, not least because they have no hope of catching it. Pigeons are not daft, which is why they just flap off and then come back for more. Pigeons are not scared of people, let alone small children, they are well adapted to living alongside them and depending on humans for food.

incidently we had a sheep dog growing up who used to nip us in the butt sometimes and try to heard us like sheep. Was I scared of her? No. Because I knew she wasn’t being aggressive. Obviously children being aggressive towards or trying to harm an Animal is not ok.

SilenceInside · 02/09/2024 17:08

@Skinthin do you think it's helpful for children to learn that animals like pigeons and ducks are there for them to use for entertainment? To not consider that there's a need to be gentle and calm around animals?

ginasevern · 02/09/2024 17:12

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 16:46

but I would have thought that not chasing living creatures for fun was a pretty basic tenet!

well, no, because chase is a perfectly ordinary, fairly ubiquitous , harmless and often enjoyable animal and human behaviour.

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God I hope you aren't serious. You think that animals enjoy being chased by humans? Is that what you teach your kids when imparting your "passionate animal welfare" beliefs? Fucking hell.

Yourdemonsyourproblem · 02/09/2024 17:12

Annoying parents who allow this it is wrong good on the person for telling off the kids

Holidaysrule · 02/09/2024 17:12

No. Of course children should not be chasing pidgeons, or any animal and I would have told the parents that in a more forthright manner.
A few years back, in Greece, some British children were hitting a group of small feral kittens with a stick. The kittens were hidden in a bush, doing nothing and the parents were well into their umpteenth bottle of Whispering Angel, paying no attention. I removed said stick, took it back to the parents and told them them, if they didn’t control their feral offspring, I would start hitting them (the parents, not the children) with the stick.
Much braying and consternation followed but they did actually start controlling their children. Idiots. Teach your children to respect all life forms, particularly those that are smaller and cannot defend themselves.

ginasevern · 02/09/2024 17:17

@Holidaysrule

"A few years back, in Greece, some British children were hitting a group of small feral kittens with a stick. The kittens were hidden in a bush."

Good for you Holidaysrule. There's a poster upthread who says she's vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare but still thinks animals enjoy being chased by humans. Go figure. It makes you want to weep for humanity doesn't it.

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:20

ginasevern · 02/09/2024 17:17

@Holidaysrule

"A few years back, in Greece, some British children were hitting a group of small feral kittens with a stick. The kittens were hidden in a bush."

Good for you Holidaysrule. There's a poster upthread who says she's vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare but still thinks animals enjoy being chased by humans. Go figure. It makes you want to weep for humanity doesn't it.

Can you read?

(also some animals definitely do enjoy being chased by humans. My dog for example).

it’s ridiculous for mumsnet to get so wound up about small children chasing pigeons. If the pigeons are bothered by it they can fly off and perch somewhere else.

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:23

Holidaysrule · 02/09/2024 17:12

No. Of course children should not be chasing pidgeons, or any animal and I would have told the parents that in a more forthright manner.
A few years back, in Greece, some British children were hitting a group of small feral kittens with a stick. The kittens were hidden in a bush, doing nothing and the parents were well into their umpteenth bottle of Whispering Angel, paying no attention. I removed said stick, took it back to the parents and told them them, if they didn’t control their feral offspring, I would start hitting them (the parents, not the children) with the stick.
Much braying and consternation followed but they did actually start controlling their children. Idiots. Teach your children to respect all life forms, particularly those that are smaller and cannot defend themselves.

some British children were hitting a group of small feral kittens with a stick

that’s obviously completely diff to a small child chasing a pigeon and I’d tell them off too!

Beezknees · 02/09/2024 17:29

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:20

Can you read?

(also some animals definitely do enjoy being chased by humans. My dog for example).

it’s ridiculous for mumsnet to get so wound up about small children chasing pigeons. If the pigeons are bothered by it they can fly off and perch somewhere else.

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Or parents could just stop being lazy and parent their kids properly.

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 02/09/2024 17:29

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 16:44

But small children aren’t running at the pigeons with aggression and a weapon?

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They are to the pigeons. They have the ability to cause harm

ncforcatquestion · 02/09/2024 17:31

I feel sad for all the little kids being told they can't run into a flock of birds, and that's wrong, that's cruel. How ridiculous

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:31

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 02/09/2024 17:29

They are to the pigeons. They have the ability to cause harm

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I disagree

notacooldad · 02/09/2024 17:31

Of course it's wrong,
I can't understand why anyone would think differently.

Beezknees · 02/09/2024 17:33

ncforcatquestion · 02/09/2024 17:31

I feel sad for all the little kids being told they can't run into a flock of birds, and that's wrong, that's cruel. How ridiculous

Why? They'll get over it. Parents need to control their kids and not just let them do whatever they want.

ginasevern · 02/09/2024 17:33

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:20

Can you read?

(also some animals definitely do enjoy being chased by humans. My dog for example).

it’s ridiculous for mumsnet to get so wound up about small children chasing pigeons. If the pigeons are bothered by it they can fly off and perch somewhere else.

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Your dog might enjoy being chased but wildlife does not. Absolutely no wild animal enjoys being chased by humans - none. How you can possibly argue otherwise beggars belief. You say that wildlife should get out of the way and find somewhere else to perch - right? Well I've got a better idea, how about you control your children and tell them how completely unnecessary it is to be chasing wildlife in the first place. The majority of other parents on this thread seem to manage it and they're not claiming to be passionate about animal welfare.

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 02/09/2024 17:37

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:31

I disagree

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Because you know if the pigeon turned round and flew into the child, the child would shit themselves and start crying.

but

the pigeon doesn’t know that. It just sees this stompy thing coming towards them. Where I live we have a lot of wildlife crime, how do the pigeons know who is a threat and who is not?

Skinthin · 02/09/2024 17:37

ginasevern · 02/09/2024 17:33

Your dog might enjoy being chased but wildlife does not. Absolutely no wild animal enjoys being chased by humans - none. How you can possibly argue otherwise beggars belief. You say that wildlife should get out of the way and find somewhere else to perch - right? Well I've got a better idea, how about you control your children and tell them how completely unnecessary it is to be chasing wildlife in the first place. The majority of other parents on this thread seem to manage it and they're not claiming to be passionate about animal welfare.

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I have to respectfully disagree that this is a problem for reasons stated above

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 02/09/2024 17:39

Prey animals behave completely differently to predators.
the same way pet guinea pigs/ rabbits/hamsters run from their owners.

mydogisthebest · 02/09/2024 17:40

ncforcatquestion · 02/09/2024 17:31

I feel sad for all the little kids being told they can't run into a flock of birds, and that's wrong, that's cruel. How ridiculous

You feel sad for children acting like little brats! I feel sad for all the little kids with such shit parents that think it is ok for them to chase birds