The cygnets are required by law to have their wings pinioned. Usually, it is only one wing so that the bird is off-balance and cannot fly. You will need to have an experienced avian or waterfowl veterinarian perform the procedure to prevent infection.

The cygnets should have their wings pinioned between 1-3 weeks of age. After 3 weeks of age, you run into greater medical costs because the birds will have to undergo general anesthesia rather a local anesthesia as nerve, bone and other components of the wing will be more developed after 3 weeks of age. This procedure at a later age is very hard on older birds and they can die during the procedure from anesthetic complications. The Regal Swan