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Original poster

Please tell me that there is no way that ds can have a duckling as a pet because I am starting to come round to the idea

58 replies

FrannyandZooey · 02/09/2006 21:41

Well, Milly Molly Mandy has one, so why not?

We have not got a farm, or a big back garden. But we are near the river and ducks do like it round here - our neighbours at the back have adopted three wild ducks who live in their garden most of the year round.

Please tell me why it would be stupid and bad, or I will end up getting one

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TooTicky · 03/09/2006 14:17

The pet dying thing is a useful experience. OMG I'm not saying it should be engineered but shouldn't be desperately avoided as death will be encountered in some way sooner or later, is educational and can lead to v. interesting discussions.
What I'm saying, very badly, is that in less sanitised ways of life death is not kept away from children and they then have a healthier view of it.
We used to have endless harrowing baby rabbit funerals, plus some for voles and a couple of rather teary ones for baby blue tits, all thanks to our ex-cat. It was almost a relief when she was hit by a car . But the experiences of death were useful.
What I worry about much more is giving a pet a reasonable life - do we have the right to keep fellow creatures as pets, etc, etc.
I'll shut up now, shall I?

TooTicky · 03/09/2006 14:18

Are you near a city farm/wildlife place where you can adopt and visit animals?

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 03/09/2006 18:38

TooTicky, I agree about the death thing, it is me that I am trying to protect - I just can't bear it.

I also agree there is a question about do we have the right to keep animals. Friends of mine have got round this by taking in rescue animals. I personally haven't got space in my life to properly look after an animal and so won't take one on. We will just have an imaginary duck, I think.

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TooTicky · 03/09/2006 20:56

It takes a great deal of energy to do the pet thing properly. We have one cat now (a relic from the days when we had 14 - we became known as people who didn't send animals to the dogs' home) and I don't think her life is terribly fulfilling. Dd1 wavers between ignoring her and mothering her, ds1 and ds2 have big problems with her vole-hunting and dd2 is terrified of her. And I have my hands full making sure the children get enough vitamins/attention.
I keep getting asked for rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and gibbons (!)but don't feel able to take on the responsibility.
I was shocked to see goldfish being given as prizes at a recent local event - I didn;t think that happened any more!

brimfull · 03/09/2006 20:58

god no they shit everywhere

lionheart · 03/09/2006 21:48

Won't an ant farm do the trick?

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 03/09/2006 22:14

Ooh ooh what about one of those caterpillar growing into a butterfly kits? Wrong time of year possibly but still...

It would also help to expunge his guilt over a recent caterpillar incident - he called me over to look at something in the park which turned out to be a slightly squashed (probably fatally squashed) caterpillar. We watched it for a while then put it back on the grass. He didn't mention it for days, then said very urgently to me one afternoon, "Mummy, you know that squashed caterpillar? It was me that squashed it."

He had never seen one before, thought it was a sort of fruit, and squeezed it to see if it was ripe

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TooTicky · 03/09/2006 22:20

Ds1 came home from school very upset recently - apparently there had been some insect eggs and a wormy thing in his orange. He'd put the wormy thing outside but was worried that the eggs wouldn't survive going to landfill. Aren't they wonderful wqhen they care so much!

Cassoulet · 03/09/2006 22:22

My friend's dad said she could have a pony if she kept it in her bedroom. It was about 4yrs before she realised he meant no.

I wanted a monkey but had to make do with family cats and newts. Newts were kept in the bath, transferred to the basin at bathtime and then back to the bath. Several were found under the stair carpets 25 yrs later when the parents moved. I did have a tortoise who ran away.

lionheart · 03/09/2006 23:16

lol FrannyandZooey.

What about a wormery thing?

Maddison · 03/09/2006 23:41

F&Z that reminds me, one day last summer DS1 was in the garden with DH. He walked over to DH with his arm outstretched with a frothy, dying snail on his hand, saying 'look Daddy, it's a snail pretending to be a slug'!

PMSL at that one!!

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 04/09/2006 07:37

I am concerned that a wormery might involve touching worms, which are not my favourite. And I think dp would have a freak out if we actually encouraged ants in the house - we are a little tiny bit neurotic I think

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earlgrey · 04/09/2006 07:58

Bird flu might put ds off, if he's old enough to understand what it is. A few months ago I saw an advert in the back of a magazine advertising a 'something'gloo which would house two chickens. Phoned H who completely veetoed the idea. Probably right as our springer spaniel would have a field day with them!

Just as an aside, while we were on holiday my 9 year old nephew and his family were up here. My nephew took it upon himself to walk our dog every day. One day he took Maxie to the University park, and met two women with three dogs. They apparently made a huge fuss of our dog. They had a chocolate brown labrador puppy, and asked my nephew if he would like it. "It's free" they said. How odd is that

Poor nephew replied he hadn't anywhere to keep it (they live in London), but I'm sorely tempted to go trawling round University park looking for them.

harpsichordcarrier · 04/09/2006 08:06

the thing about a duckling though is it will turn into a duck and they are quite BIG you know...
we had a duck when I was a teenager. well two ducks and they were very sweet. they are a bit prone to keeling over/breaking legs and wings/being eaten by foxes though.
they are quite tricky to handle too, and can be a bit scary and alarming with the flapping wings.
they do lay rather useful eggs if you can bear to eat them. they are quite frugal to feed really and don't need a lot of looking after.
but the shit is grim, I agree. your whole back garden would be full of poo and you would either have to keep cleaning it or be resigned to it being trodden into the house.
If you had to take them to the vet, it would be quite tricky without driving them.

harpsichordcarrier · 04/09/2006 08:09

we had one like this
bantams are pretty small but you wouldn't want just one, I suspect?

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 04/09/2006 08:10

Could the duck not go in the bike seat HC?

No, ok, the moment of madness has passed...It's a wormery or nothing.

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earlgrey · 04/09/2006 08:10

LOL HCC about the 'shit being grim' Baby shit is pretty grim, but at least it doesn't get trodden into your kitchen!

harpsichordcarrier · 04/09/2006 08:11

lolololol at you driving through town with a sick duck hanging out the back of the bike seat.
a wormery sounds good. I like worms.
you, though, do not

earlgrey · 04/09/2006 08:11

Stick insects?

Papillon · 04/09/2006 08:11

I used to have a pet chicken... best pet ever who gave me an egg a day and enjoyed gardening with me.

earlgrey · 04/09/2006 08:13

HCC, I can't tell you how much the picture of that has made me laugh .....

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 04/09/2006 08:16

HC, would you not come and clean the wormery out for me?

Hey I know, I could take the duck to the vet in the sling

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Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 04/09/2006 08:17

And stick insects are vile

Giant wobbly twigs.....

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harpsichordcarrier · 04/09/2006 08:28

god, no, not stick insects. what's the point of them? I mean, just collect some twigs, put them in a glass box and occasionally knock it as you walk past.
what about a tortoise? they are rather sweet and it is agres before you have to do that scary hibernating in the fridge thing

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 04/09/2006 08:35

Dp is crazy about tortoises, but I thought it was illegal now?

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