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?

You're in the minority. Don't complain if someone tells your kids off because you don't want to teach them properly.

They're not brats it's one of the joys of childhood

yeh im in the minority thinking eating meat is unacceptable too. Pretty sure most of mumsnet wouldnt appreciate it if I told their kids off for that!

And stop eating chicken on a weekly basis. Model that to your children

Someone further up called toddlers bastards if they run after a bird. This thread is wild…

@Skinthin I'm vegetarian... you may be a minority but you're not the only one.

I would be interested to know what you think of my questions upthread about whether it's helpful to teach children that animals such as birds are there to be used for entertainment? Do you consider there's a need to be gentle and calm around animals, wild ones and unfamiliar ones in particular?

Utterly ridiculous comparison.

No it isn't. Please get a grip.

No it's never acceptable to chase wildlife like that. I remember telling a couple of kids to stop chasing peacocks a few years ago. I was surprised that the grandparents in charge of the kids had said nothing to them . AIBU.

The kids were OK about it though when I explained it was stressful for the birds. They were nice kids though and listened respectfully.

Some people like being whipped. Does that mean I can come over and beat your arse? After all, a lot of people enjoy it.

Do you consider there's a need to be gentle and calm around animals, wild ones and unfamiliar ones in particular?

I 100% teach my children there’s a need to be gentle and calm towards animals. (Although I don’t see what unfamiliar has to do with it particularly- it’s just as important to be gentle and calm around a pet). In terms of entertainment- can animals be entertaining? Of course. It’s it ok to enjoy animals? Yes. Are animals there solely for our entertainment? No way. Nor are they there for our consumption, which most humans believe and is very much an endemic position in human culture.

Is it every ok to be cruel or harm and animal? Absolutely not.

Do I think a small child clumsily tottling after a pigeon while it flies away is cruelty and abuse of animals? No. Do I think the bird is distressed or harmed by this? No.

No it's not okay the only time I "scare away" an animal is walking quickly towards a seagul that's threatening to steal our food 😂 (didn't stop him last week though the bugger! )

I'm really laughing at the image of a child trying to chase my loan horse. He fucking hates children. They'd look like the roadrunner trying to get away!

You are right it is a ridiculous comparison. Because factory farming and slaughtering actually cause birds distress, pain and suffering.

@Skinthin if one of your children chased one of my dogs….it would not end well for the child! Can you honestly not understand that whilst your dog might enjoy being chased (by people it knows and trusts, ergo they view it as a fun game) other animals might not? My dogs would do nothing other than return to me but I would absolutely give them and you a ticking off. Being a bloody vegetarian doesn’t give you or your children the right to harass animals. Seriously, what mentality is that? “I won’t eat you but I will allow my children to terrify you in the place that you live”? Really? What nonsense.

Unfamiliar is simply because if you know your own pets, if you have any, then you may be able to tell when it's ok to play with them eg dogs. I would hope you teach your children not to bundle up to an unfamiliar dog and try to engage it in play?

I don't care if your toddler clumsily toddles in the direction of some pigeons and they fly away. If your toddler then thinks that's a great game and starts to chase them, which is what this thread is about, then no that's not ok and the toddler needs redirection.

Bonkers

The reason it's irritating me is I don't think you can genuinely care about birds if you're eating them

But what I don’t get why you believe they are “terrified”? The children obviously can’t catch them, and if they were terrified they’d just go somewhere else.

pigeons . are . not . stupid .

Of course it's wrong to allow children to cause stress to any wildlife. How can this even be a question?

I am one of those bolshy older mums who will definitely tell off other peoples kids if they're doing something likely to cause harm to others.

Must admit I'm unimpressed by the people who look the other way and don't get involved.

Pathetic cowards!

Yes, I would hope I would say something if nobody else was intervening.

Slightly different, as it wasn't kids, but last year I lost it at some youngish (very early 20s) girls who were chasing pregnant sheep. They were filming each other chasing them and squealing and being really horrible, the poor sheep were terrified. I remember seeing myself as if I was someone else, I pointed right at them and went NO! STOP THAT! YOU HORRIBLE FUCKERS, THAT'S ABUSIVE! I think I was more surprised than they were, but they did stop. I almost hope they were live on tiktok or something to catch me doing it. I don't know what I'd have done if they'd turned on me because I was on my own and there were about 5 of them and we were in the middle of the Peak district, but fortunately they slunk off looking a bit embarrassed.