Unfortunately, your case is not the exception. Florida is experiencing the coldest temperatures in 10 years. We have seen Black Swans lay eggs throughout these extreme freezing cold temperatures which began several weeks ago. The freezes are occurring several times a week and then the highs get into the 70's. Mute Swans are starting to mate thinking that the winter is over.

At this time, eggs which should be hatching after being layed several weeks ago, still have not hatched and probably will not. However, having said this, mother swans know what they are doing better than we.

In any case, you should let Mother Nature run its course. Swans can count and mother swans may double clutch (produce another clutch of eggs) if you try to remove the eggs. Incubation is not all that easy and your chances of successfully seeing this to fruition especially if you do not have any incubation experience is probably not going to happen.

Mother swans lose about 30% of the weight from egg laying and nesting. If the mother should double clutch, you risk losing her if she loses much more energy or weight which allows her to stay warm in extreme temperatures. Weight loss can cause stress which can cause sickness and possibly death.

Furthermore, even if the swans do not produce a viable clutch early in the year, the Black Swans produce two clutches a year and will remate and re-nest in the summer. So, you may still get cygnets later in the year.

We hope that this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan