The swan species you are describing is the Mute Swan. In some states, you must have a permit from your state Fish & Game Commission to possess these swans because they are listed as a non-native species. So, please check before purchasing with your state wildlife folks so that you do not get fined for illegal possession of this species.

No, the depth of the pond is not going to help. The swans need a large swimming area with the pond being at least 6 feet deep in the middle of the pond. The pond will need to have an aerator to keep the water flowing and a way to keep the water filtered with either new water supplied naturally (spring fed) or an in-flow of water (man-made) to keep anaerobic bacteria from thriving from stagnant water. Otherwise, the swans will die from a toxic poisoning called botulism. The swan themselves will need to be vaccinated against botulism on a yearly basis. The swans may also need to be de-wormed on a yearly basis and provided some other vaccines to protect them from duck viral enteritis or other diseases.

The swans need to be able to eat grasses and aquatic vegetation. The lettuce, bread, cracked corn and layer pellets are only a supplemental food. If they do not have normal aquatic vegetation and food sources, they can die from malnutrition.

Some mute swans can go as low as $300 a pair or as high as $1500 depending on shipping and the breeder from which they are purchased. You must also ensure that the breeder is reputable because the swans could have parasites, etc., if the breeder is not concentious about how the swans are cared for and bred.

Two boys and two girls will get along fine depending that they are very young birds and are raised together at the beginning. Otherwise, there can be fights. There still may be fights during nesting season especially if the birds are not raised as a young pair together.

We must say, that swans are not the best pets if you do not have a budget or time to care for them. They are an extremely high maintenance animal if you are truly interested in taking care of them properly. Veterinary medical care is not going to be cheap if the swans get hurt or sick. A captive swan can live up to 30 years. Who will take care of them if something happens to you? We hope that this information helps you. The Regal Swan