Ask the Swan Specialist

Double Clutch: Will the parents drive the 7-week-old cygnet away when new eggs hatch?
By:Jeanne Moore <1meengn@cox.net>
Date: 29 May 2009

We have a pair of swans that hatched 3 eggs on April 9, 2009. The cygnets were pinioned, 2 were sold and the remaining cygnet left with his parents. In the past week the parents have laid 4 eggs and may lay more. I have noticed the cygnet keeping a distance from the parents, which may be normal for a 7 week old cygnet, however, they all eat together and the parents have not exibited any aggressive behavior toward the cygnet. My question is: Will the parents drive the cygnet away and is there a chance the eggs will hatch?