The pen that is described in the book can be used for nesting, veterinary care, etc. The lattice pen that you describe is actually very dangerous or nesting birds especially, if the opening is toward the bank. Predators, domesticated dogs and cats, raccoons, fox, bobcat, etc. go into an opening facing the bank and the swans cannot escape. The opening needs to face the pond or completely enclosed from top to bottom so that animals cannot dig under or crawl over and into the pen accessing the enclosed swan family.

Food needs to be a mixture of cracked corn and poultry layer pellets as these foods provide nutritional needs such as Vitamin A (to prevent neurological problems especially in young), calcium, magnesium and other micro-nutrients. The Regal Swan