Thank you for the detailed information you have given me about my swans building their nest.

I have a couple of additional questions. Their barn is only 8ft by 8ft. We guide them into their barn at night as they do not want to go volontarily they prefer to stay otdoors. They will not be willing to build their nest in the barn unless I locked them in and kept them there for an undetermined period.

This is going to present another problem as they make it dirty overnight. We have to wash it every morning. If it was possible to build an artificial nest that they can adopt, I can probably put it in an elevated area in their barn or make the barn larger to accommodate it.

As far as picking up the cygnets. I am guessing that they will walk to the pool every morning like thir parents do. Do you know how people who raise swans in similar conditions handle the ensting problm.