Hi!
I have a couple in my pond, she is 8 years old and he is 4 years old (the former guy died 2 years ago). In spring time they mate regularly and they make a big nest laying from 4 to 8 eggs. The incubation starts but only once we sow a cygnet (and just one, that died two weeks later). What could be the problem?

I think is the climate, i live in a plateau 1000 m high, with a very cold winter, and sometimes with snow till April and May.

But, mother should knows the best. So why she does not move ahead the laying time? Or why she does not take care properly of her eggs and her cygnets?

I'm thinking to try an artificial incubation.. but it is really problematic, not for me but for the cygnets later..

please help me, thanks