I wondered if the paint ball gun would be too much for em, I've been worried about killing them in front of the kids! We do have fun throwing pea gravel at them to keep them off, and trying the feeding on the bank stuff doesnt cut it when they know what fish food taste like!! I can feed the ducks before or after I feed the fish and as soon as they hear the food hit the water they take off after it! They are VERY VERY persistent in eating it too, you turn your back they dart in till you turn back around..Least the ducks we have are like this, I hope everyone else has better luck with them than I do!