Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: What can i feed a swan.
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 26 November 2008
In Response To: Re: What can i feed a swan. (leah)

Hi Leah:

Here is what we are surmising is occuring. Your swan is a juvenile, meaning mom and dad just kicked him out of the house. Now, he is supposed to go out on his own and find food, shelter, etc. Only problem is that the animal ambulance probably took him back to the same pond that mom and dad told him to leave. Now, enter the friendly two legged person who is feeding him so that life is easy. He does not have to go find food, he autmomatically knows where he can find it. If the pond freezes over, this is not going to be a happy ending for the swan unless you can keep an area of the pond from freezing and guarantee that he is fed daily and frequently. Still not a good scenario. If the animal group comes back and removes him further away, it will be for the better. He may not be able to find his way back and will have to act like a swan. If he does find his way back, then you folks are going to have to ensure his survival during the cold winter.

Swans are hard to sex (physical probing exam) until about one year of age when the genitals are mature. The more reliable way is to have the bird's blood sampled and submit for DNA Sequencing. Hope this helps. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

What can i feed a swan. -- leah -- 23 November 2008
Re: What can i feed a swan. -- The Regal Swan -- 23 November 2008
Re: What can i feed a swan. -- leah -- 26 November 2008
Re: What can i feed a swan. -- The Regal Swan -- 26 November 2008