Swans can produce viable young as early as 2 years of age. However, even though this is a possibility, the first run at egg laying and eventual hatching, may in fact be a practice run. We have seen young swans hatch out cygnets only to have them perish due to abandonment or neglect simply because the parents had no clue regarding the care for their young. By the next mating season, the young birds seemingly had a light switch turn on and became mature parents. Conversely, we have seen young swans produce no viable eggs and others, become great parents the second year. The Regal Swan,
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