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?

If I’m wrong and the animals are fine with it, then there’s no harm done.

if your wrong and it does cause them distress then there is harm done

why risk it?

Because it’s their home, a food source and a natural reaction

the birds in my garden fly from my bird feeder because I’m a perceived threat. Yet I’m the one feeding them so no threat. It’s learnt behaviour to keep them safe

@ncforcatquestion

"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."

I feel sad that you have such a strange outlook on life. Why do you think children need to run into a flock of birds? You actually think it's cruel to stop them chasing wildlife? Really? You don't think it's cruel to make other creatures frightened. Wow. Hope you haven't got any pets.

Wow who knew chasing birds could cause such controversy 🤣

Their “home” is much wider that the couple of sq metres in which the typical small child is allowed to roam in public.

Again, if it’s simply a “natural” reaction then it doesn’t imply any suffering.

thats fair enough, but you pick your struggles and battles in this world don’t you? I can’t get wound up about something that I perceive to be harmless, when there are so many other things going on that are obviously deeply harmful. Like the meat / farming industry.

Mumsnet 😳

Now this is a whole other thread…! Not sure if you mean just running up slides or going up slides at all though. I think it’s ok for children to explore going up slides as long as they’ve learnt to be considerate and respectful of others. It is a challenge and risk for them to explore.

Me and DH are vegetarian and have been for over 30 years but even if we weren't we would still think it wrong to chase wildlife

@Skinthin I agree pigeons are not stupid. But it seems you are.
If some massive being jumped out and chased your children where they feel most safe - in your home, when they were sleeping or when they were eating in safety, in your home, I think even you would agree that would frighten them? You wouldn’t want that for them I think? But you allow your children to do just that and justify it because you are a “vegetarian” Horseshit.
I utterly guarantee when they reach teenage years, you will wonder why they have no respect for you or anyone or anything else, you will be on here whining that they “ don’t listen”. Well. Newsflash, it’s because you haven't taught them what they need to know. Frankly chasing pidgeons is going to be the least of your problems.

😆 Which bit doesn’t make sense? I thought you were talking about running up slides…!?

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
Exactly, the children want the go back to their park and therefore want the dogs gone. They don't run away from the dogs, and when the dogs stop, they go right next to the dogs, waiting for them to be chased again.

Why do so many assume that dicks/pigeons are emotionally sensitive enough to process fear and harassment but stupid enough to come back over and over again, right next to the subject of their fear when they have so many other places they can go, get food and avoid being run after?

do you tell other peoples kids off for eating meat though?

Exactly.

Ducks, not dicks! I think this thread is a perfect example of how adults transfer their own feelings and emotions onto anything else.

If they, they kids, pets etc....feel something, then everyone and everything else must do without considering that not everyone experience things the same way, and as for animals, especially wild ones, not even experts can ascertain for sure what goes through their brains!

I haven’t said anything about “my children” yet here you are inventing a story about how they will grow up to be savages - “no respect for anything” noless- because I didn’t stop them chasing pigeons as toddlers 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

The imagination and storytelling on mumsnet… yet apparently it’s too much to imagine that a pigeon might have the perception and capacity to give an apparently “terrifying predator” a little bit of berth

Exactly the projection of the idea that these birds are “terrified” by being chased by a “stranger” who is much larger than them.
The only evidence we have of this is they fly away, but this isn’t evidence of fear as chasing / running / flying away behaviours are common in animals and do not necessarily indicate aggression or fear.
Meanwhile the fact that they come back for more, and right up to the children is certainly evidence they aren’t particularly traumatised by/ fearful of said children, even after being chased.

Only idiots let their kids chase ducks or pigeons.

I have told children not to distress wildlife. They do need to learn, but, of all those on this thread that teach their own and others children to respect animals, how many research the conditions the animals they eat are kept in and how they are transported and killed and then educate their children about that? The double standards we have towards pets and wildlife compared to farm animals always baffles me.

I’ll be honest that I’m fine with mine chasing the seagulls away before they destroy something trying to steal our picnic food.

I would stop my child from chasing wildlife and if I saw persistent kids doing it as in this scenario I would tell them to stop too. Well done OP for doing the right thing.

At what age does it become unacceptable? If it's okay when they are 18 months and "clumsily tottling after a pigeon", is it okay at 3? 6? 9? 18? 47? And if you pick an age when it does become unacceptable in your eyes, how are you going to explain to your child that they are now "too old" to chase pigeons when they weren't yesterday? Surely it's just better to teach your child to not torment animals from the get go?