Our vet advised us to tube feed the cygnet three or four times daily for three to five days or until he was able to eat on it's own. We tube fed the cygnet three times then switched to water soaked feed for a day, and by day three it was eating feed floating in the pool we provided for exercise. Day six we decided to try to release him on the lake with his parents and three siblings. We caught the three siblings and placed them in the pet carrier with the recovered cygnet for about 15 minutes. Our hope was they would poop and all smell the same, and I'm happy to report all cygnets were released to the parents with no problems. The cygnet has not left mom's side and is eating everything and gaining weight. We took our chances with the poop theory, and the parents may have accepted him anyway, but it is still a happy ending.

Also, the nesting parents of our eight week old cygnet have allowed him to remain on the lake and allow him in the nesting cage with mom. We will keep you updated.

Thanks for all you help!