Children chasing pigeons. Abusive?

[S1ur]

It is time for the Mumsnet verdict.

Say your piece.

I don't let mine chase pigeons usually. Sometimes a quick run up, but not persistent chasing down.

That doesn't mean that I let them share our picnic. I think they're horrible (pigeons). But I don't like any animal being harried really.

Personally I hate seeing children chase pigeons, it is cruel and giving out the wrong message to children. Animals should be respected, regardless of what sort of animal they may be.

Pigeons are not vermin in my eyes. They are living in towns and cities because we are stupid enough to provide food for them with litter and shelter in our buildings, they have become residents only due to us! Originally Pigeons live in cliffs!

The only way any 'disease' can spread is in their poo and this is mainly when the poo is dry and then 'brushed'or 'disturbed'as the smell/effect can get onto your chest.

I have lived in the City all my life and have never fed a pigeon and never tormented one. They are a living creature, the same as a cute robin, sparrow, duck....
I have seen pigeon nests destroyed by man and it angers me. The only way to stop them is to clean up litter and to make it impossible to nest.

Oh def chase them.

We were feeding pigeons in Madrid. One came back and shat on DP. He had to go round Madrid with a yellow stain down a blue shirt. They are ungrateful feckers and should be chased.

Morning!

Good, good, lots of opinions, I think we can crack this one. We need MORE.

This thread is not directly related to a different thread, ie the one about those children chucking stones at ducks. I think that we all agree that was bad behaviour.

And for the record, it isn't based on a quote of anyone on that thread.

But that thread did remind me of reading a post months ago calling chasing pigeons animal abuse, and since then I have seen similar sentiments a couple of times.

And it is a genuine and worthwhile question. Mainly because for lots of people, pigeons occupy a behaviour grey area.

Also by chasing I mean running towrds a crowd of pigeons and causing them to fly away.

Sooooooooo,
is chasing pigeons animal abuse?
is a 3 year old chasing pigeons abusive?
is a 5yo? 6? 10?

And what about chasing Rock Doves? Or Robins?

I am not definite in my own opinion of this so am genuinely interested in what you have to say.

Well, I'm not mad keen on pigeons and like to keep most wildlife at arms length.

But I do think it's unkind and would tell my dc not to do it. If they did. Which they haven't, cos they're not mad keen on pigeons either.

It's not something that requires an asbo though is it?

I don't let dd chase pigeons.

Serial killers often tormented animals as children you know

kicking ducks and throwing stones at animals is awful behaviour and i would never ever condone it ... I just saw that thread too
But a toddler chasing pigeons in NOT animal abuse. A child of 5 or older should not be encouraged and a child over 8 should be stopped.

I remember once a friend of my brother came round to our house, all proud of himself, holding a dead pigeon in one hand and a catapult in the other, to show us . He was about 13 at the time (I was 9). My father had such a go at him for animal cruelty and showed him the door, telling him he could never come round again [good old dad]. That was horrible ...

Pigeons are there to be chased. I'm just terrified that one day the DSs will actually catch one.

If the pigeons were particularly bothered by it, they could always choose to fly off somewhere else. But they never do, they keep coming back for more. They LIKE being chased!

My children and my grandchildren have all been given little twists of salt to sprinkle on a pigeons tail, if they manage to do it, (36 years,and none have yet) the pigeons, will be tame, did you not know this!

Would it be wrong for me to chase the lady who scatters loaves of white sliced in our local park? Or encourage children to chase her?

It would solve the whole problem.....

I think that calling children chasing pigeons abusive really trivialises real abuse.

As swampster pointed out, if the pigeons were irritated by it they would fly away. The children are just being children and should, if anything, be encouraged.

Well they obvioulsy enjoy it or they'd just fly off don't you think?

I discourage my plucky toddler from chasing birds that look like they could carry him off. Black-backed gulls look like they would be an equal match, geese are not to be messed with, and I prefer for him not to engage with hungry raptors!

And as this is the boy who kindly offers his much loved dummy to the ducks, I really don't think he sets out to be mean.

Lol Ruby!

Message withdrawn

DC allowed to chase any healthy birds who can fly (& not nesting, like terns might be), they are not allowed to pursue injured or non-flying animals.
DS is finally learning to pick up spiders & dump in garden without killing them.

I have NEVER encouraged ds to chase pigeons but chase them he does! It's a built in instinct that cannot be quashed!! My dd showed no interest in them at all.

I would of course stop him from actually trying to hurt them - what on earth would a child do if they did actually catch one???

And yet I would not let him chase ducks as i am terrified of the geese that are usually around them!! And i have too much respect for the ducks of course - yum, yum.

A rock dove is a pigeon!

i hate pigeons, they make me come out in a sweat.dd is essential in keeping them away from me.

No not abuse, IMO.

DD was attacked by a swan a few weeks ago that she was trying to feed.

Ds yelled, "Mummy shall I kick him in the head?" I am amazed, he has never stuck anything in his life and is scared of his own shadow, he must really like his sister.

my ds3 was outside tesco with me giving pigeons baguette crumbs as we waited for dh- several old ladies watched kindly-one big bully pigeon was nudging the littler ones away and ds was getting quite cross 'no ,share' he was saying again old ladies looking kindly - he then chased big pigeon way whilst littler pigeons stood scoffin said crumbs........a woman shouted at him in a roaring voice 'leave that bird alone' i said how dare she he was feeding them nicely hes not a malicious child and besides he can fly off if he doesnt like it ..... all the kind ladies agreed and shouty woman walked off.......

the big bully pigeon then shit on her head ............

I don't think it's abuse - of course it's not. And I don't feel really strongly about it. But I don't allow mine to chase pigeons - not because I think it bothers the pigeons even slightly, but because it suggests that it is OK to chase/tease any animal. If you can chase pigeons, why not ducks? Or puppies?Or sheep?

What Seeker just said.

I don't like it - I don't think it teaches children empathy. Just teaches children that its fun to scare animals.