We would strongly suggest that you keep the cygnets until they are 5-6 months of age, unless the male becomes so overly aggressive that injury or death is imminent. Picking or nipping is a way that swans discipline and teach the cygnets. Removing the cygnets too early prevents the parents from teaching them crucial behaviors such as feeding, preening, bathing, protecting and hiding from predators, etc.

Failure to learn these vital behaviors may be detrimental to the young birds. Additionally, if the cygnets are raised more by humans rather than their swan parents, the cygnets can become imprinted. Imprinting means that the birds start thinking they are human rather than swans. This behavior will cause the swans to actively seek, trust and rely on humans (any human) to provide food and basically, care for them. When the swans become too trusting to humans, they will walk up to anyone or anything, including predators which could mean serious injury or even death to the birds if the humans are not well meaning. We hope this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan