Give them approximately 2 weeks. The swans should be acclimated by that time. Keep a close watch on the swans for a couple of days once you release them to insure that they don't try walking around. Also, make sure you have an aerator/de-icer on your pond for the winter as they will not be able to stay on a frozen pond. Swans kept on frozen ponds can drown If they fall through soft ice, be accessed and attacked by predators, starve, become dehydrated or catch cold leading to stress, pneumonia and even death.

If you do not have a de-icer, you will need to bring the swans in for the winter. If keeping them in the barn, you will need to insure no predators can get to them and their food and water must be changed daily to prevent pests such as ants and mice.

The swans will need to be kept in a warm ventilated shelter with no direct drafts.

The swans ( now and whenever they are kept indoors) should be soaked thoroughly with water on a daily basis with warm water so the swans can preen and keep their feathers healthy. If you release the swans onto the pond without keeping them soaked on a daily basis and allowing their natural oils to coat their feathers (uropygial oil from the preen gland), their feathers will not be water repellent and the swans can drown once they are placed back on the pond. The Regal Swan